The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) has upheld the judge’s order allowing lighting of traditional lamps on the occasion of Deepthoon (Krithikai Deepam) at the Thiruparankundram hill temple complex in Tamil Nadu.
The court said that the district administration should have seen this matter as an opportunity for mediation instead of confrontation. The bench also made it clear that since this hill is a protected monument, any activity taking place here will have to strictly follow the provisions of the relevant law.
According to the report of news agency ANI, the court made it clear that lighting of lamps can be done and the number of people participating in it can be decided in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
VIDEO | Madurai, Tamil Nadu: Thirupparankundram lamp lighting row – Madras HC’s Madurai Bench upholds single judge’s ruling allowing lighting of lamp on ‘Deepathoon’. Advocate Arun Swaminathan speaks on the verdict:#Madurai #TamilNaduNews
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/rB1qQFC7zj
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 6, 2026
Dargah and state government could not show evidence – Madras High Court
Madras High Court Justice G. The Madurai bench of Justice Jayachandran and Justice KK Ramakrishnan, while delivering the order in the case, said, ‘In the case, the Appellant State Government and Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badshah Avulia Dargah have not been able to produce concrete evidence to show that Agama Shastra prohibits lighting of lamps at that place.’
The court said, ‘The apprehension of law and order was an imaginary specter created by the state authorities for their own convenience to put one community under suspicion against another. The district administration should have taken this issue as an opportunity to bridge the gap between communities through mediation.
What is the whole controversy?
Earlier, a single bench of Justice GR Swaminathan had given the verdict regarding this matter. While giving the verdict, the court had directed the state officials to ensure the lighting of the sacred lamp on the top of the hill. At the same time, the Tamil Nadu government had challenged this order citing apprehensions regarding law and order.
At the same time, during the winter session of Parliament, an impeachment motion was given for the removal of Justice GR Swaminathan, who gave the verdict in this case. More than 100 MPs of the opposition alliance including Congress, DMK, SP had signed and submitted a proposal to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for impeachment against the Justice.
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