The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to first clarify its stand in a case linked to the lighting of Karthigai Deepam at the lamp pillar atop Thiruparankundram hill.
The matter arises from a contempt petition filed after a single judge, on December 1, 2025, ordered that the festival lamp be lit at the hill’s lamp pillar as well, apart from the usual locations. Appeals were later filed against various orders passed in the contempt proceedings.
When the batch of matters came up earlier on April 8, the division bench had granted an interim stay of the single judge’s order until June 4 and asked the state to place its position and recommendations on the issue at the next hearing.
At the latest hearing, the government sought two weeks’ time to consult the concerned departmental officials. The petitioners’ side said it had no objection to granting time, while the dargah side sought permission to pursue its appeal, which was opposed by the petitioners.
The bench observed that it would decide on the validity of the single judge’s order, but stressed that this is a democracy and public sentiments must be respected. The court directed the state to state its position first and posted the matter to June 22.
