Madurai – The Madras High Court on Friday raised serious concerns over the Tamil Nadu government’s repeated failure to permit the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop the Deepathoon, the ancient stone lamp pillar on Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai district. The matter has escalated into a contentious issue, drawing attention from the state government, the judiciary, and thousands of devotees.

The Deepathoon controversy stems from successive petitions filed by devotees seeking permission to light the lamp, a ritual integral to Tamil culture. Despite clear directions from the High Court, authorities have repeatedly denied access, citing law and order concerns. The continued obstruction has triggered contempt proceedings against senior district officials, including the Madurai Collector, the City Police Commissioner, and the Executive Officer of the Arulmighu Subramania Swamy Temple.

High Court Proceedings and Contempt Petition

Justice G.R. Swaminathan, presiding over the Madurai bench, began hearings on a contempt petition after being informed that district authorities and local police had blocked devotees from reaching the hill on December 4. This occurred despite explicit instructions issued on December 1 and reiterated in the following days, allowing the lamp-lighting ceremony to proceed under adequate security arrangements.

Advocate R.M. Arun Swaminathan, representing the petitioner devotees, told the court that authorities had “surrounded devotees,” threatened arrests, and detained more than 300 people in a marriage hall on Thursday evening—mere hours after the court’s order. He accused the State of being “adamant” and deliberately violating the law. The advocate requested that the State Home Department also be made a party to the proceedings.

Justice Swaminathan, while declining to widen the scope of the contempt plea, directed the State to submit a detailed report. He also instructed the CISF commandant, who had accompanied the petitioners on December 4 in compliance with the High Court’s earlier order, to file a report explaining how devotees were obstructed from performing the ritual.

State’s Position and Supreme Court Move

Representing the State, Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran and senior advocate Vikas Singh for the Madurai Police Commissioner maintained that there was no intention to defy the court. They cited circumstances on the ground that allegedly made compliance “impossible.” Singh confirmed that both the State and the Commissioner had approached the Supreme Court against the Division Bench order, which had upheld Justice Swaminathan’s December 1 direction.

In response, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant advised the State to have its plea numbered and listed for urgent hearing, following the allegation by the petitioner’s counsel that the government was “staging a drama” to signal the High Court that the matter had reached the apex court.

The contempt proceedings in the Madurai bench were adjourned to December 9, allowing time for the State to submit its report and for the CISF to provide a detailed account of the December 4 obstruction.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The Deepathoon, situated on Thiruparankundram hill, is a prominent site of worship in Tamil Nadu, with the Karthigai Deepam lighting being a ritual of considerable religious and cultural importance. Justice Swaminathan, in his December 1 order, emphasized that the lamp-lighting ceremony is an integral part of Tamil culture and should not be denied to devotees.

The State, however, cited law and order concerns, particularly the hill’s proximity to a dargah, as a reason to restrict access. On December 3, Justice Swaminathan quashed the Madurai Collector’s prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC (Section 163 BNSS), describing it as an “attempt to circumvent his order.” On the same day, a Division Bench upheld his directions, noting that the State’s appeal was “an attempt to pre-empt contempt.”

Political and Religious Flashpoint

What began as a simple petition by a group of devotees has escalated into a politically and religiously sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu. The repeated failure to comply with court orders has sparked criticism from religious groups and legal experts alike, who view the obstruction as a challenge to judicial authority.

Observers note that the case highlights the delicate balance between maintaining law and order, respecting religious traditions, and ensuring compliance with judicial directives. With the Supreme Court now involved and contempt proceedings ongoing, the Deepathoon dispute is likely to remain a high-profile matter in Tamil Nadu’s legal and cultural landscape in the coming days.

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