The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the Madras High Court’s orders to light a lamp at a stone pillar near a dargah on the Thirupparankundram hill. A Bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar issued notice to various parties, including the Madurai District Collector, Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), and the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.
The Tamil Nadu government, represented by senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, argued that the High Court has created a new tradition by ordering the lighting of the lamp, which is not supported by historical records. Gupta stated that this decision would set a dangerous precedent and could lead to repeated litigation concerning rituals, festivals, and customs in public temples. The State government also claimed that the High Court decisions had conferred upon individual devotees the right to dictate the manner and place of performance of temple rituals, which is unknown to law.
The High Court’s Division Bench had earlier confirmed a previous Single Judge Bench order directing the Subramaniya Swamy Temple management in Thirupparankundram to light the Karthigai Deepam at the ‘deepathoon’ (stone pillar) atop the hill, besides the usual places. The previous DMK regime in the State had expressed concerns that lighting the lamp may lead to public disturbances, but the Single Judge had dismissed these apprehensions as an ‘imaginary ghost’.
The Supreme Court refused to grant any interim relief to the State government, stating that the case would be heard comprehensively after the respondents file their affidavits in six weeks. The apex court listed the case for hearing in eight weeks.
The High Court had earlier urged the State not to ‘stoop’ to the level of achieving a political agenda by creating public disturbances. The court had reasoned that allowing a few persons to light the lamp and permitting worship was not an unmanageable task.
