Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging a Madras High Court order that permitted the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam at a stone pillar, known as the ‘deepathoon’, located near a dargah atop the historic Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai district.
The appeal marks the latest development in a long-running dispute over religious practices on the hill, which is home to the famed Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple as well as a dargah situated near the summit.
Earlier this year, a division bench of the Madras High Court upheld a single judge’s order directing the temple administration to light the Karthigai Deepam at the stone pillar on the hilltop in addition to the customary locations where the ritual is traditionally observed.
The court had rejected the state government’s contention that permitting the ceremony at the site could trigger communal tensions and disturb public order.
During the proceedings, the previous DMK government had said that allowing devotees and temple representatives to conduct the ritual near the dargah could potentially lead to law and order issues.
However, the High Court was unconvinced by the argument and dismissed the concerns as speculative.
In a strongly worded observation, the single judge described the state’s apprehensions as an “imaginary ghost” and asked why a government possessing extensive administrative and policing powers would be unable to maintain peace during a religious event conducted on a temple land.
The court said that any disturbance would occur only if it was effectively enabled by the state itself.
It also remarked that allowing a limited number of temple representatives to light a ceremonial lamp at the designated stone pillar on a single day each year could not be considered an unmanageable task for the administration.
The High Court also cautioned the state government against lowering itself to pursue any political agenda through such objections and stressed that ensuring peaceful worship was part of the state’s Constitutional responsibility.
Despite those observations, the Vijay government has now sought the intervention of the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s findings and directions.
The state is being represented before the apex court by advocate B. Karunakaran.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the appeal is expected to have significant implications for the sensitive religious and administrative issues surrounding the Thirupparankundram Hill.
(IANS)
