Madras High Court upholds order allowing Karthigai Deepam at Thirupparankundram Deepathoon

Chennai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday upheld a single-judge order permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam on a stone pillar, known as the Deepathoon, located on the lower of the two peaks atop the Thiruparankundram hillock.

A Division Bench of Justices G Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan affirmed the earlier ruling of Justice G.R. Swaminathan, who had directed the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple administration to light the ceremonial lamp at the Deepathoon, in addition to other customary locations during the Karthigai Deepam festival.

The petitioner, Rama Ravikumar, welcomed the judgment and described it as a victory for the devotees of Lord Muruga.


The Bench rejected the State government’s concerns that lighting the lamp at the stone pillar could lead to law and order issues. It also dismissed claims that the stone pillar formed part of the nearby dargah structure.

The court reiterated that lighting a deepam at an elevated location is a recognised religious practice and held that the temple administration was required to comply with devotees’ request to light the lamp at the Deepathoon.

The Court observed that the district administration ought to have treated the issue as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the communities through mediation. It further held that since the hill is a protected site, any activity carried out there must strictly comply with the provisions of the Act. The Court clarified that the lamp may be lit and the number of persons permitted can be fixed, subject to consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In its judgment, the court laid down detailed guidelines aimed at enabling both Hindu and Muslim communities to observe their respective religious practices at the hillock without interference.

Reacting to the judgement, BJP leader K Annamalai on Tuesday welcomed the Madras HC's order regarding the lighting of lamps on the Deepathoon in Tirupparankundram temple, expressing hope that the incumbent DMK-led state government would not "blatantly misuse its power." The former Tamil Nadu BJP chief stressed that the court's bench clarified that the Deepathoon (stone lamp pillar) atop Thiruparankundram Hill belongs to the Temple.

With inputs from ANI