Madurai Bench defers hearing
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of appeals filed by the Madurai District Collector and the city Police Commissioner. The appeals challenge proceedings in a contempt of court case arising from the non-compliance of an earlier direction to light the Karthigai lamp at the lamp pillar on Thiruparankundram hill.
The dispute traces back to an order dated December 1, 2025, passed by Justice G.R. Swaminathan on a petition filed by Ezumalai Ram Ravikumar and others. The judge had directed that, apart from the usual locations, the Karthigai lamp should also be lit at the hill’s lamp pillar.
Subsequently, multiple parties including the temple’s executive officer and the Collector filed appeals. On January 6, a Division Bench disposed of those petitions, directing the temple administration to light the lamp at the lamp pillar through its team during the Karthigai Deepam festival in the Tamil month of Karthigai.
In the contempt proceedings, Justice Swaminathan on December 4 directed that police protection be provided for lighting the lamp at the lamp pillar by the Ravikumar side. The Collector Praveen Kumar and Police Commissioner Lokanathan appealed against this.
A Division Bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman heard the matter and adjourned it to March 17.
