Thiruparankundram ‘deepam’ row | T.N. government loses appeal, judge again orders lighting of lamp at Deepathoon

A tense stand-off prevailed at Tirupparankundram in Madurai for the second day, as Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Subramaniya Swamy temple authorities to ensure that the lamp was lit at the Deepathoon(pillar) near a dargah, after the State lost an appeal against his earlier order to this effect.

Amid escalating tension, the police detained BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran and others who insisted that they be allowed to ascend the Tirupparankundram hill on Thursday (December 4, 2025) night.

Earlier, hearing an appeal filed by Madurai Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar and City Police Commissioner J. Loganathan against the single judge’s order, a Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan said: “We find this appeal, filed with ulterior motive to pre-empt contempt action, liable to be dismissed.”

Soon after this, Mr. Justice Swaminathan resumed hearing a contempt of court petition filed by a litigant on Wednesday (December 3, 2025), when the Karthigai Deepam was lit only at the usual place on the hill and not at the particular Deepathoon. The judge summoned the Collector and Police Commissioner to appear before him virtually.

Dictating an order when the Police Commissioner appeared via video conference, he quashed the prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of BNSS in Tirupparankundram on Wednesday (December 3, 2025). The judge then directed that the lamp be lit on Thursday (December 4, 2025) evening.

“December 4 is Sarvalaya Deepam day. Therefore, Karthigai Deepam can be lit today also. This order should be read along with the earlier orders passed by the court. Except for deputing the CISF Personnel and the change regarding the date, in all other respects, the directions issued on December 3 hold good,” he said, and posted the matter for reporting compliance on Friday (December 5, 2025) morning.

At the time of filing of this report, the lamp was not lit, even as hundreds of pro-Hindu outfit supporters gathered near the hills. Meanwhile, the State filed appeals before the Madurai Bench of the High Court in connection with the case.

Earlier, Justice Swaminathan said from the sequence of events, it was obvious that the prohibitory order was issued solely to nullify the directions given by the court and to provide a convenient reason for the jurisdictional police to defy the court’s order.

“When legislatures, including Parliament, cannot nullify a judgment of the Constitutional Courts, except in the manner indicated, a District Magistrate cannot do so. His order cannot be allowed to stand even for a second. If the officers are allowed to defy court’s orders in this fashion, it will lead to anarchy. Such a situation is impermissible and must be nipped in the bud. Since the prohibitory order issued by the Collector overreaches the order passed by the court, it stands quashed,” he said.

The judge added that when the Constitutional Court declared the rights of the parties, the duty of the district administration and the jurisdictional police was to assist in enforcing them.

“Since I have great regard and respect for the State Police, even while permitting the writ petitioners, along with their associates numbering ten, to go up the hill and light the Deepam at the Deepathoon, I direct the Police Commissioner, as well as the police force under him, to give fullest protection and bandobust to effectuate the direction passed in favour of the writ petitioners. I make it clear that if this order is disobeyed, harsh consequences will ensue,” Justice Swaminathan said.

(With inputs from C. Palanivel Rajan)