The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench on Thursday, 4 December 2025, took serious exception to the conduct of the Thirupparankundram temple’s Executive Officer and the Madurai District Collector after they failed to appear before the court during the hearing of a contempt petition related to the non-lighting of the court-mandated Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon atop Thirupparankundram Hill.
The matter was heard by Justice GR Swaminathan, who earlier had permitted the petitioner and ten others to light the Deepam under CISF protection after the temple administration failed to comply with his December 1 order.
“You were blessed by the order”
At the start of the hearing, Senior Advocate N. Jothi submitted, “We’ve suffered the court’s order.”
Justice Swaminathan replied in lighter vein: “You did not suffer with the order. You were blessed by the order.”
Court Warns of Harsher Order if Officials Fail to Appear
Expressing displeasure over the absence of the Executive Officer and District Collector, the judge said: “I’ll reassemble at 5:30 p.m. If they do not appear (through VC) by then, I’ll pass a harsher order.”
When the bench reconvened, Madurai City Police Commissioner appeared via video conference.
Court Confronts Police Commissioner
Justice Swaminathan questioned him directly:
“I’m posing a direct question to you. What do you do when there’s a court order?”
The Commissioner responded that he had the “highest regard for the court” but explained that a huge crowd, destruction of barricades, and a resulting law-and-order situation had necessitated the promulgation of a Section 144 order.
The judge then inquired about the exact time at which the Commissioner wrote to the District Collector seeking imposition of Section 144.
State Government’s Arguments
Additional Advocate General (AAG) Veera Kathiravan denied deliberate disobedience: “We never intended to disobey the court order. We know the order has come, but the LPA is permitted.”
AAG J. Ravindran urged the court to wait for the writ appeal scheduled for the next day: “At this stage, I don’t want to go into the merits. My only request is that tomorrow writ appeal is coming. Let us wait for the appeal.”
Court Recaps Events & Criticises Police Action
In delivering the order, Justice Swaminathan recalled that his direction from the previous day had allowed the petitioner and CISF to go ahead with the lighting of the Deepam. However:
The Commissioner restrained the petitioners and CISF from proceeding.
He informed them that due to Section 144, he was “not in a position to respect the order of court.”
CISF personnel then returned, and the petitioners were prevented from lighting the Deepam despite explicit permission.
Division Bench Appeal Dismissed
The court recorded that the State’s appeal to the Division Bench had been dismissed earlier in the day through a detailed order, meaning the single judge’s directions continued to remain operative.
Court Quashes Section 144 Order
Justice Swaminathan observed that the Commissioner appeared to believe he ranked above the High Court, remarking: “The Commissioner may think he is superior in ranking than HC judge.”
He added that the Commissioner attempted to justify his actions by citing the District Magistrate’s Section 144 order.
The judge reiterated that “constitutional court’s order can be set aside only in manner known to law. As long as it’s standing, it has to be obeyed by all officers.”
Finding that the Section 144 order had been invoked only to obstruct implementation of the High Court’s directions, the judge quashed it.
Court Directs Police to Ensure Lamp Is Lit Today
Justice Swaminathan concluded by directing the Madurai City Police Commissioner to:
- Provide police protection,
- Allow devotees to light the Deepam at the Deepathoon today,
- And warned that strict action would follow if the order was not complied with.
The hearing was then brought to a close.
Source: LiveLaw
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