TN govt moves Supreme Court against Madras HC Thirupparankundram deepam order
Synopsis
The Tamil Nadu government has taken the Thirupparankundram hill religious dispute to the Supreme Court, challenging a Madras High Court ruling that ordered the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam near a dargah atop the hill. The High Court had bluntly called the state's law-and-order fears an 'imaginary ghost' — and now the apex court must decide whether those fears justify overriding a temple's ritual rights.
Key Takeaways
The Tamil Nadu government under CM C.
Joseph Vijay has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order on the Karthigai Deepam ritual.
The High Court directed the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple administration to light the deepam at the 'deepathoon' stone pillar near a dargah atop Thirupparankundram hill , Madurai .
The state had argued the ritual near the dargah could trigger communal tensions; the High Court dismissed this as an 'imaginary ghost' .
The court reminded the state that ensuring peaceful worship is a Constitutional responsibility , not a discretionary one.
The state is represented before the apex court by advocate B.
Karunakaran ; the Supreme Court's ruling is expected to set a precedent for the site's management.
The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, on Tuesday filed an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging a Madras High Court ruling that directed the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam at a stone pillar — locally called the 'deepathoon' — situated near a dargah atop the historic Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai district. The appeal adds a fresh chapter to a protracted dispute over religious observances on the hill, which houses both the revered Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple and a dargah near its summit.
Background to the Dispute
Earlier this year, a division bench of the Madras High Court upheld a single judge's order directing the temple administration to include the hilltop stone pillar among the customary locations where the Karthigai Deepam ritual is performed. The High Court rejected the state government's argument that permitting the ceremony near the dargah risked communal friction and public order disturbances.
The previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had contended during proceedings that allowing devotees and temple representatives to conduct the ritual in proximity to the dargah could potentially escalate into law and order problems.
What the High Court Said
The single judge was pointed in dismissing those concerns. The court characterised the state's apprehensions as an 'imaginary ghost', questioning why an administration with extensive policing powers would be incapable of maintaining peace during a single-day religious event on temple land. The bench observed that any breakdown of order would arise only if the state itself permitted it.
The High Court further noted that allowing a limited number of temple representatives to light a ceremonial lamp at the designated stone pillar once a year was not an unmanageable administrative challenge. It also cautioned the state against allowing political considerations to colour its objections, reminding it that safeguarding peaceful worship is a Constitutional obligation.
Vijay Government's Move to the Supreme Court
Despite those observations from the High Court, the Vijay government has now approached the apex court, contesting the High Court's findings and the directions it issued. The state is represented before the Supreme Court by advocate B. Karunakaran.
Notably, this appeal comes under a new chief minister, marking a continuation of the state's legal position even as political leadership has changed. It signals that the administration's concern over the site's sensitivity remains unchanged across governments.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court's ruling on the appeal is expected to carry significant weight for the management of religious practices on Thirupparankundram hill — a site of shared, and at times contested, religious significance. A decision in favour of the state could delay or restrict the ritual at the hilltop pillar; a ruling upholding the High Court order would compel the temple administration and the state to facilitate the deepam at the site, potentially under police protection.
Point of View
The Vijay government risks reinforcing the High Court's inference that political calculation, not genuine security concern, is driving the objection. The deeper issue is a recurring one in Tamil Nadu: the state's tendency to invoke public order as a reason to restrict Hindu temple rituals at contested sites, a pattern that courts have increasingly scrutinised. If the Supreme Court upholds the High Court, it will further narrow the state's discretion to block constitutionally protected religious practices on grounds that are speculative rather than demonstrated.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam dispute about?
The dispute centres on whether the traditional Karthigai Deepam ritual can be lit at a stone pillar called the 'deepathoon' near a dargah atop Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai. The Madras High Court directed the temple administration to perform the ritual there; the Tamil Nadu government has challenged that order in the Supreme Court, citing potential communal tension.
Why has the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court?
The state government contests the Madras High Court's finding that its law-and-order concerns were speculative. It has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the High Court's directions to light the Karthigai Deepam near the dargah on the hilltop.
What did the Madras High Court say about the state's concerns?
The High Court called the state's apprehensions an 'imaginary ghost' and said that any disturbance would occur only if the state itself enabled it. It also cautioned the government against pursuing a political agenda through such objections and stressed that peaceful worship is a Constitutional responsibility.
Who is representing Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court?
The Tamil Nadu government is represented before the Supreme Court by advocate B. Karunakaran.
What are the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling?
The Supreme Court's decision will determine whether the Karthigai Deepam can be performed at the hilltop stone pillar near the dargah. A ruling upholding the High Court order would compel the state to facilitate the ritual there, likely under police protection, while a ruling in the state's favour could restrict or delay the practice at that location.
