Madras HC censures Madurai authorities; Deepathoon lamp contempt case adjourned to Feb 2

Chennai: Madras High Court judge Justice G R Swaminathan has expressed strong displeasure over the failure of Madurai district authorities to file their response in a contempt of court case concerning the non-lighting of the ceremonial lamp on the Deepathoon at the summit of the Thiruparankundram hill.

Adjourning the matter to 2 February, the judge noted that despite repeated opportunities, the authorities had not submitted their explanation. The contempt petition was filed against government officials for allegedly failing to comply with an earlier order passed by Justice Swaminathan directing that the ceremonial lamp be lit on the Deepathoon (lamp pillar) atop the hill.

When the petition came up for hearing on Friday, the Madurai City Police Commissioner, the Madurai District Collector and several other officials appeared before the High Court.

During the proceedings, Justice Swaminathan also questioned the temple administration over the alleged tying of a flag by a nearby dargah on temple land. “That is temple property. How did you permit the tying of the flag by the dargah?” the judge asked, seeking an explanation as to why no criminal trespass case had been registered in the matter.

The case arises from a long-standing dispute over the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp at the hilltop temple. Earlier this week, a Division Bench of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court upheld Justice Swaminathan’s order permitting the lighting of lamps on the Deepathoon at the Tirupparankundram temple.

The Division Bench, comprising Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan, observed that the district administration should have treated the issue as an opportunity to bridge differences between communities through mediation. The Bench further held that, as the hill is a protected site, all activities must strictly comply with the provisions of the relevant Act.

Clarifying the scope of the order, the court said the ceremonial lamp may be lit, with the number of persons permitted to participate to be fixed in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Welcoming the ruling, petitioner Rajesh described it as a “remarkable order” and said the temple administration should now make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the lamp is lit on the Deepathoon. He added that the court had rejected the arguments advanced by the Tamil Nadu government.

The issue has also sparked political reactions. During the Winter Session of Parliament, more than 100 MPs from the INDIA bloc submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking to move an impeachment motion against Justice Swaminathan over the order. In December, tensions flared during the Karthigai Deepam festival, with clashes reported between right-wing activists and the police.

In the first week of December 2025, the Madurai Bench had directed that the petitioner and ten others be allowed to light the lamp atop the hill, with CISF providing security, after observing that its earlier directions had been wilfully disobeyed.