A division bench of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued an interim stay on a single judge’s order that directed authorities to permit a five-member group to offer worship at the hilltop of Thiruparankundram, near the lamp pillar.
The matter is linked to earlier proceedings in which the District Collector and the Madurai Police Commissioner had appealed before the division bench against a contempt case filed over the alleged non-compliance with a single judge’s direction relating to lighting the lamp at the hilltop lamp pillar. The bench had earlier granted an interim stay in that contempt-related appeal on March 17.
In a separate order, Justice Swaminathan had directed that five persons be allowed to offer worship by sprinkling flowers near the hilltop lamp pillar. Appeals challenging this direction were filed by the temple administration, the dargah administration, and the Madurai Police Commissioner.
When the appeals came up for hearing on April 8 before Justices Sathish Kumar and Jothi Raman, the bench stayed the single judge’s order permitting the five-member worship. The court also adjourned all cases related to Thiruparankundram to June 4.
