Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation has launched a free cremation service for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families at all crematoriums maintained by the Foundation across Tamil Nadu. The initiative was formally inaugurated by the Honorable Minister for Municipal Administration, Thiru K.N. Nehru in Chennai. Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister commended the Foundation’s longstanding service, noting that Isha-managed crematoriums have facilitated over one lakh cremations, ensuring dignity and adherence to proper procedures. 

The newly launched free cremation service aims to support economically disadvantaged families in performing the final rites of their loved ones without financial strain. Isha currently operates 17 gas crematoriums in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government and is preparing to assume responsibility for three additional facilities.

For the past 15 years, under Sadhguru’s guidance, Isha Foundation has been managing crematoriums in several districts of Tamil Nadu in partnership with the state government. In these facilities, Isha has revived ancient traditions and death rituals with a powerful energy basis, conducting them in the spirit of service rather than as a commercial venture. The processes are performed with sensitivity and awareness to ease the hearts of the family of the deceased. 

The crematoriums managed by Isha are located in Chennai, Vellore, Thanjavur and Coimbatore district, including Nanjundapuram, Veerakeralam, Thudiyalur, Podanur, Vellalore, Alandurai, Thondamuthur, Karamadai, and Goundampalayam.

All facilities are maintained in full compliance with guidelines issued by the Pollution Control Board and the Government of Tamil Nadu for gas-electric crematoriums. Beyond operational management, Isha undertakes environmental and infrastructural improvements, such as developing park-like surroundings, planting dense tree cover, establishing proper pathways, and maintaining hygienic bathing and toilet facilities. These measures are implemented with government support to ensure a clean, environmentally safe facility.

To uphold the sanctity of the final rites, Isha provides specialized training to crematorium staff to ensure respectful handling of the deceased and appropriate conduct within the solemn setting. A designated mandapam is also made available on the premises for performing traditional rituals.

Guided by Sadhguru’s vision, Foundation plans to expand this initiative by adopting 1,000 to 3,000 crematoria across Bharat, working to restore their traditional sanctity and ensure dignified, compassionate service for all.

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Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a prominent Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, who appeared in the Court on behalf of the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government.

His role was to challenge a Madras High Court order allowing Hindu devotees to light the Deepam at the ancient “Deepathoon”—a stone lamp pillar atop the hill—effectively seeking to prevent the ritual from taking place.

The Karthigai Deepam festival, celebrated annually in the Tamil month of Karthigai (typically November-December), commemorates the triumph of light over darkness. At Thirupparankundram, the ritual involves lighting a massive lamp atop the hill’s Deepathoon, a towering stone pillar believed to date back centuries.

The turning point came on December 1, 2025, when Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench issued a landmark order. In response to Ravikumar’s petition, the judge directed the Subramaniya Swamy Temple administration to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon “from this year onwards,” alongside the usual sites.

But the DMK government, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, refused to comply. Instead, it clamped fresh prohibitory orders across Thirupparankundram, detaining devotees—including BJP leaders like state president Nainar Nagendran and senior figure H. Raja—who attempted to ascend the hill under Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protection.

Protests erupted, with Hindu outfits accusing the state of “anti-Hindu bias” to appease minority voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

On December 3, Ravikumar filed a contempt petition, alleging deliberate defiance. Justice Swaminathan, visibly frustrated, summoned district officials and permitted the petitioner and nine associates to light the lamp themselves under police escort. When even this was thwarted, the court escalated: on December 4, it dismissed the state’s appeal and reiterated the directive, lambasting the administration for “nullifying” judicial authority.

Enter Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared on behalf of the DMK government, requesting just a brief window to present initial arguments. However, the court firmly deferred any substantive discussions, emphasizing a comprehensive review of all appeals together.

Singhvi contended that the state’s petition ought to take precedence over the Letter Patent Appeal process, but the judges clarified they would evaluate the case on its substantive merits during the full hearing. The bench also ruled that only existing parties could participate, barring any new interventions or impleadments.

What Has Happened So Far

On 1 December 2025, Justice G.R. Swaminathan unambiguously ruled that the Karthigai Deepam must be lit at the ancient Deepathoon atop the hill, not at the Uchipillaiyar mandapam as insisted by the DMK-aligned administration. His order was based on a 1923 decree and subsequent Privy Council rulings affirming the temple’s ownership of the hill.

The state simply refused to comply. Instead it issued prohibitory orders, blocked devotees, moved hurried appeals, and invoked “law and order” to prevent execution of a judicial direction. Even after a contempt order permitting devotees to ascend with CISF protection, police physically stopped them. The Division Bench later observed that the state had “wilfully decided” not to obey the court.

Rather than respecting the judiciary, the DMK escalated its defiance—filing appeals, manipulating administrative orders, and even submitting misleading documents attributed to priests. The HR&CE Department, police and district administration functioned as an anti-Hindu enforcement arm, prioritising “minority sensitivities” over constitutional rights.

As of December 7, 2025, the lamp has not been lit at Deepathoon. The BJP and Hindu Munnani has annouced a state-wide protest against the DMK government for its attempt to curtail religious rights of Hindus.

By deploying senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi to argue the DMK’s case, Congress has effectively lent its national stature to the state’s efforts to suppress a millennia-old Hindu ritual

This move aligns with the INDI Alliance’s broader agenda of ‘eradicating Sanatana Dharma’.

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In a scathing anonymous open letter circulating widely on social media, an IndiGo employee has accused the airline’s management of fostering a culture of fear, intimidation, and neglect that has culminated in the carrier’s ongoing operational crisis. The letter, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by aviation commentator @AeroAwcs on 6 December 2025.

The crisis erupted earlier this week when new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules enforced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) restricted pilots’ night landings and extended rest periods to combat fatigue. IndiGo, India’s largest airline with a 60% market share, was caught off-guard, leading to over 1,000 cancellations since December 3, including all departures from major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai on some days.

The DGCA has since granted a temporary exemption until February 10, 2026, allowing IndiGo to resume operations, but not before issuing a show-cause notice to CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer.

Titled “Open Letter to My Fellow Citizens, and to the Management of IndiGo,” the missive paints a grim picture of internal decay at the low-cost carrier, which began as a proud startup in 2006 but allegedly devolved into a “too big to fail” behemoth under arrogant leadership. “We started off small in 2006. We were proud—genuinely proud—of what we were building,” the author writes, contrasting those early days with a later attitude of hubris: “Remember this phrase, yes we heard this in 2009 when Lehman Brothers and likes failed. And we, the employees, kept warning—sometimes quietly, sometimes desperately. But no one listened.”

The letter accuses management of strangling competition through overcapacity tactics—such as flooding routes during Akasa Air’s 2022 launch—and prioritizing profits over safety. Pilots raising fatigue concerns were reportedly summoned to headquarters, “intimidated, shouted at, and humiliated,” with no accountability. Ground staff, earning as little as ₹16,000-18,000 per month, were forced to handle the workload of three people, running between aircraft without extra compensation even as night duties doubled and leaves were curtailed.”

This downfall was years in the making,” the employee asserts, linking the current chaos to systemic issues like unqualified promotions based on access to employee stock options (ESOPs) rather than talent. “The real rot started when titles became more important than talent. Suddenly, people who couldn’t even draft a proper email were becoming VPs—because being a VP meant access to ESOPs and power.” The author extends the critique beyond the cockpit, noting how the airline’s monopoly-like practices affected millions of passengers and the broader economy.

The letter’s release comes days after Elbers acknowledged “operational failures” in an internal memo to staff, vowing to restore punctuality as the “immediate goal” and outlining plans to hire over 900 pilots by early 2026 to comply with the DGCA norms.

However, the open letter dismisses such measures as too little, too late, urging the public and regulators to recognize that “the recent mass disruptions were not just an operational failure—they were a failure of leadership.”

Reactions online have been swift and supportive. Aviation professionals and passengers have echoed the sentiments, with one X user calling for heads to roll and tagging regulators like the DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Former pilots pointed out that India has around 4,700 unemployed aviators who could fill gaps immediately, questioning why IndiGo—despite having a reported 20% pilot surplus—failed to prepare.

Critics, including ex-aviation experts, have demanded a government probe, alleging the DGCA’s initial exemptions compromised safety for the sake of IndiGo’s dominance.

IndiGo has not publicly responded to the open letter as of Sunday evening, but the airline stated it is ramping up operations and issuing refunds to affected passengers.

Operations are expected to stabilize by December 10, though the fallout—from stranded travelers to rival airlines absorbing overflow—has exposed vulnerabilities in India’s aviation sector.

As the dust settles, the letter serves as a stark reminder: What began as an underdog success story risks becoming a cautionary tale of unchecked growth. “We all looked away and now we blame this on monopoly,” the author laments. With the DGCA forming a committee to investigate, the coming weeks could determine whether IndiGo’s “too big to fail” era ends in reform—or regret.

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The post Indigo Employee Writes Open Letter Slamming Management And Blaming Toxic Work Culture appeared first on The Commune.

Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has stormed the box office and delivered a knockout punch to India’s perennial peace-with-Pakistan lobby and their cheerleaders in the liberal commentariat. Within days of release, the usual suspects – from The Wire to Anupama Chopra and Sucharita Tyagi – have gone into full meltdown mode, clutching pearls over “shrill nationalism,” “too much testosterone,” and the cardinal sin of showing Pakistan’s terror establishment exactly as it behaves: crass, indulgent, and dripping with bloodlust.

The Wire’s reviewer, in a piece that reads like a paid advertisement for Aman ki Asha, whines that the film “is as subtle as a troll” and takes grave exception to the portrayal of Pakistan’s “terror world.” Apparently, showing ISI officers as sleazy, chain-smoking, paan-spitting conspirators who fund slaughter in Mumbai is now considered Islamophobic fiction in certain enlightened circles. One almost expects the reviewer to demand a trigger warning for the 26/11 montage – you know, the one that uses actual news footage of the attack that Pakistan’s Deep State orchestrated and still refuses to acknowledge.

Film critic Anupama Chopra, never one to miss a chance to signal virtue, slammed the movie for its “inflammatory anti-Pakistan narrative” and complained that it is overloaded with “too much testosterone.” One wonders what exactly Madame Chopra expected from a film about RAW agents hunting terrorists: Katrina Kaif and Ranveer Singh sipping oat-milk lattes in Karachi while discussing gender fluidity with LeT commanders?

YouTuber Sucharita Tyagi took particular offence at the film’s “aggressive hyper-masculinity” and “hardcore nationalism.”

Visibly agitated in her review, she objected to the cinematic crime of depicting Pakistani politicians and ISI officers as “crass and indulgent” – as if the real ones are renowned for their monastic restraint and Gandhian simplicity.

But the real trigger, it seems, was Aditya Dhar’s audacity to weave in real audio recordings of the 26/11 handlers and actual news footage from both the 2001 Parliament attack and the Mumbai massacre. Tyagi frets that this “blurs the line between fiction and fact” and might lead the audience to believe “everything in the film is factual truth.” Pray tell, which part isn’t? That Pakistani terrorists carried out 26/11? That their handlers were calmly giving kill orders over phone from Karachi? That the ISI has never been held accountable? The only thing blurred here is the line between criticism and denialism.

The film ends, unapologetically, with the now-iconic line: “Ye Naya Hindustan Hai. Ye ghar mein ghus ke marega bhi.”

Sucharita Tyagi unable to cope with the aggressive attitude of India towards its enemies who keep sending terrorists across the border to murder sleeping children, train commuters, and pilgrims, says “Beneath the adrenaline, I continuously felt an unmistakable unease. Something sinister hums under the surface. I can’t quite articulate it yet. Perhaps my thought may become clearer when part 2 of this film comes out in April. But you best believe that something nefarious is afoot when the film chooses to end with “Ye Naya Hindustan Hai, Ye Ghar Mein Ghusega Bhi Aur Marega Bhi”

If Pakistan and its loyal Indian proxies are rattled, Operation Dhurandhar is already successful.

Check out this thread below for more meltdowns.

Dhurandhar melt down Thread

CBFC is Hypocrite guys pic.twitter.com/NiL5Y3WGSt

— Monica Verma (@TrulyMonica) December 6, 2025

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The post Operation Dhurandhar Successful: ‘Aman Ki Asha’ Apologists Suffer Meltdown, Upset At “Anti-Pakistan Narrative” And “Hardcore Nationalism” appeared first on The Commune.

In an extraordinary and unprecedented judicial dressing-down, the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench has exposed the DMK government’s blatant contempt for the rule of law, constitutional propriety, and Hindu religious rights. Justice G.R. Swaminathan’s order reads like a charge-sheet against a State administration that deliberately chose confrontation over compliance, and political arrogance over constitutional duty.

The case revolved around a simple issue: allowing devotees to light the sacred Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon of Thirupparankundram Hill. On 01.12.2025, the Court had clearly and unequivocally allowed devotees to perform the ritual. Yet the DMK administration, instead of complying, went into sabotage mode.

Despite receiving a copy of the order “immediately” and despite the event being scheduled for 6 PM on 03.12.2025, the State machinery did nothing to honour the Court’s direction. As the judge observed, the authorities “remained inactive,” thereby defying the order of this Court

When devotees approached the Court stating the order was about to be breached, Justice Swaminathan noted that “it was obvious that contempt had been committed.” He reminded the DMK administration that neither rank nor position places anyone above the law. Citing the Supreme Court’s recent judgment, he reiterated that “Disobedience… attacks the very foundation of the rule of law… no one, howsoever high they may be, may think they are above the law.”

DMK Govt Tried To Sabotage Court Order 

After the Court permitted the petitioners to climb the hill with CISF protection to light the Deepam, what happened next is nothing short of a constitutional horror story.

When the devotees and CISF team reached the foothill, Madurai Police Commissioner J. Loganathan, IPS physically blocked them — openly declaring that he “was not in a position to respect the order of this Court” because of a prohibitory order issued by the District Collector a day earlier under Section 163 of BNSS.

This was not law enforcement.
This was law sabotage.

The Court minced no words: it declared that the Collector’s order was passed “only to nullify the directions given by this Court” and to give the police “a convenient reason to defy” the judicial mandate.

The judge invoked Article 261 of the Constitution, which mandates nationwide enforceability of judicial orders, making the police duty-bound to assist — not obstruct. “They cannot defy for any reason whatsoever,” the order stresses.

“Sound The Death Knell Of Democracy”

In a damning indictment, even the Division Bench dismissed the appeal filed by the Collector and Commissioner, calling it an attempt “with ulterior motive to preempt contempt action.”

Justice Swaminathan’s words reflect the gravity of the situation created by the DMK government:

The State administration “has decided to cock a snook at this Court’s order”

Defying the judiciary would “sound the death knell of democracy itself”

Officers cannot choose to obey or ignore court orders; doing so would “lead to anarchy” and must be “nipped in the bud”

In a striking historical reference, the judge compared the situation to the U.S. civil rights era, noting how President Eisenhower deployed the military when federal police refused to enforce desegregation orders — urging the Madurai Police Commissioner to “take inspiration.”

Court Quashes DMK Govt’s Prohibitory Order

Calling the District Magistrate’s order unconstitutional, impermissible, and void, the Court quashed it outright.

Then, in a direct command issued in the presence of the Police Commissioner over video conference, the Court ordered the police to give “fullest protection” to the devotees to climb the hill and light the Deepam — warning that “harsh consequences will ensue” if the DMK administration again disobeys.

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The post “Death Knell Of Democracy”: Madras High Court Slams DMK Govt, Collector And Police Commissioner For Brazenly Defying Court Order In Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam Case appeared first on The Commune.

In a scathing rebuke that exposes the DMK government’s blatant disregard for judicial authority and Hindu traditions, the Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed the state’s desperate appeal against a single judge’s order permitting devotees to light the sacred Karthigai Deepam at the iconic stone pillar atop Thirupparankundram hill. The division bench’s verdict not only upholds the age-old ritual but also lays bare the Stalin administration’s incompetence in upholding constitutional duties, fueling what critics are calling a manufactured communal crisis.

The controversy, simmering for days in the shadow of the revered Subramaniya Swamy Temple, erupted into chaos as devotees, emboldened by the court’s directive, clashed with heavily barricaded police forces. Eyewitnesses reported stones being hurled, barricades torn down, and scuffles breaking out near the hillock, where a centuries-old Sufi dargah stands adjacent to the contested lamp post.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were clamped down, effectively turning the sacred site into a fortress of state overreach, preventing even token worship. This aggressive posturing by the DMK-led police—deploying lathis and additional forces—has only escalated tensions, transforming a simple act of devotion into a flashpoint for unrest.

What began as a humble petition seeking permission for the Karthigai Deepam ritual—a beacon of light symbolizing the triumph of good over evil in Tamil Hindu lore—has been hijacked by the DMK’s appeasement playbook. The single judge’s order on December 3 was crystal clear: allow a small group of devotees to light the lamp under the protection of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), ensuring no disruption to the fragile communal harmony.

Yet, in a brazen act of defiance, the Tamil Nadu government rushed to the division bench, arguing that the ritual would “provoke” tensions near the dargah. The bench, comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and C. Kumarappan, saw through the charade, dismissing the appeal with a withering observation: “The situation has arisen in which the State Police [are] unable to carry the constitutional mandate.”

State “Consciously Disregarded” Order, Failed In Constitutional Duty

The bench recorded that despite a clear order on 01.12.2025 directing the temple management to light the Deepam at the designated stone pillar, the authorities took no steps to comply, forcing the petitioner to rush with an urgent contempt plea.

Shockingly, even at 5 PM on Karthigai Deepam day, when the ritual had to be performed by 6 PM, no arrangements had been made by the HR&CE authorities. The Executive Officer of the temple flatly told the petitioner that the court order would not be followed.

The judges observed:

“The State… has miserably failed by not protecting the fundamental rights of the Hindus and by deliberate disobedience of the judicial order.”

DMK Govt Attempted To Block Deepam Using Section 163 Of BNSS (Old Section – 144 CRPC)

Perhaps the most damning part of the judgment is the exposure of a clumsy last-minute attempt by the District Collector to sabotage the ritual by imposing a prohibitory order — conveniently timed at exactly 6:00 PM, the Deepam lighting time.

The court examined the file and noted shocking discrepancies:

The Collector passed a Section 163 BNSS order just before the ritual.

The file contained loose sheets, raising suspicion of manipulation.

The order specifically exempted religious ceremonies, making its application to Deepam blatantly illegal.

The judges remarked:

“It is very obvious that the Section 163 order is either passed prior to the judicial order or the records are manipulated after this Court called for the file.”

State Police Refused Protection, High Court Had To Deploy CISF

In an unprecedented move, the High Court had to request CISF personnel to escort the petitioner because the State Police simply refused to follow the Court’s directions.

The bench justified CISF intervention, stating:

“If the State machinery disobeys the Court order and refuses protection, the Court cannot stand helpless.”

This is a damning indictment of the DMK government’s law enforcement apparatus — the Court effectively ruled that the Tamil Nadu Police failed in their constitutional duty and obstructed a lawful Hindu religious practice.

DMK Govt’s Appeal Dismissed As A “Preemptive Move” To Escape Contempt

The judges made an extraordinary observation:

The appeal itself was filed merely as a “pre-emptive step” to escape contempt action.

The bench repeatedly stressed that:

The Government had no intention to obey the order.

The officials’ conduct was willfully defiant.

The administration acted at the behest of “vested interests” opposing the Hindu ritual.

A Humiliating Moment For DMK’s HR&CE Policies

This judgment is a massive embarrassment for the DMK’s HR&CE Department, exposing: state-sponsored obstruction of Hindu rituals, manipulation of records, use of law-and-order tools to suppress religious rights and open defiance of High Court orders

The bench finally delivered a resounding blow:

“This appeal, filed with ulterior motive to preempt contempt action, is liable to be dismissed.”

Court Upholds Hindu Rights, Slams DMK’s Abuse Of Power

The High Court has made it abundantly clear:

The right to light the Karthigai Deepam at Deepa Thoon is protected under Articles 25 & 26.

The DMK administration acted against constitutional duties.

The Collector and Police Commissioner engaged in deliberate obstruction, not legitimate governance.

This is not merely a legal setback — it is a historic judicial reprimand exposing how far the DMK government was willing to go to prevent Hindus from observing a centuries-old tradition.

The fallout from this fiasco is already rippling across Madurai. With Karthigai Deepam just days away, the hilltop—once a symbol of shared reverence—now bristles with checkpoints and resentment. Reports of injuries among devotees and viral videos of police excesses have ignited social media outrage, with hashtags like #DMKFails and #SaveThirupparankundram trending nationwide.

As the court mandates the lamp be lit under heavy security, one can’t help but question: How low will the DMK stoop to dim the flames of tradition?This episode is a clarion call for accountability. Governor R.N. Ravi must intervene to ensure compliance, and the Election Commission should scrutinize the DMK’s communal maneuvering ahead of future polls. Tamil Nadu’s Hindus deserve better than a government that treats their faith as a political football. Until the Deepam flickers atop the hill tonight, the shadow of Stalin’s shortsightedness will linger—a dark blot on Dravidian “progressivism.”

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The post “Deliberate Disobediance, Manipulated Records, State Has Miserably Failed To Protect Hindu Rights”: Madras High Court Rips Apart DMK Govt’s Abuse Of Power In Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam Case appeared first on The Commune.

In a dramatic escalation, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has taken the extraordinary step of directing Hindu devotees to personally light the sacred Karthigai Deepam at the ancient Deepathoon stone pillar atop Thirupparankundram Hill in Madurai, after the DMK government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department outright refused to comply with an initial court order. Citing the department’s “non-compliance” and the urgency of the festival—set for today, December 3—the court has further mandated the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to ensure the ritual proceeds without disruption. This ruling underscores a deepening rift over the preservation of Tamil Hindu traditions amid allegations of administrative overreach and appeasement politics under the DMK-led government.

A Sacred Flame Caught In Dravidian Model Appeasement Politics

Thirupparankundram Hill, one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu, is a site of profound spiritual significance for Hindus. At its base lies the revered Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple, while the summit hosts the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah, a Muslim shrine established in the 17th century.

The Karthigai Deepam festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December), symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Lighting massive oil lamps atop hillocks is a deeply rooted Tamil tradition, referenced in ancient Sangam literature like the Akananuru. For over a century, the Deepam at Thirupparankundram was lit at the Deepathoon, but in recent decades, it has been relegated to a mandapam near the Uchipillaiyar Temple midway up the hill—allegedly to avoid proximity to the dargah, about 50 meters away on a separate peak.

This year’s controversy ignited on November 3, when the temple’s Executive Officer, under HR&CE oversight, issued an order restricting the lighting to the mandapam, citing “law and order concerns” due to the site’s nearness to the dargah.

Devotees, led by Rama Ravikumar, state general secretary of the Hindu Makkal Katchi, challenged this as a dilution of tradition and a failure to assert temple property rights. Multiple writ petitions followed, arguing that the Deepathoon falls squarely within temple-demarcated land and that withholding the ritual risks further encroachments by dargah trustees.

High Court Intervenes: Reprimands HR&CE

On December 1, Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench delivered a landmark order, allowing the petitions and directing the temple management—itself under HR&CE control—to light the Deepam at the Deepathoon “apart from the usual places” starting this year.

The judge emphasized that “lighting lamps atop hillocks during Karthigai is a deeply rooted Tamil tradition” and that “the very purpose of a Deepathoon is to light a lamp.”

He dismissed objections from the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board and dargah representatives, noting that the site is on a lower peak, outside their demarcated area, and that “by lighting the lamp at Deepathoon… the structure of the Dargah is not in any way affected.”

Justice Swaminathan went further, critiquing the HR&CE for its “lack of vigilance” in protecting temple interests: “The Supreme Court has held that a worshiper is entitled to take action to safeguard the interest of the idol when the trustee fails to discharge his duty.”

He analogized the ritual to a symbolic assertion of ownership, akin to closing temple gates periodically to prevent easement claims, and ordered police protection to enforce compliance.

“With police protection ensured, lighting a lamp—a sacred act—cannot offend anyone’s sensibilities,” the judge concluded.

HR&CE’s Defiance: Appeal And Refusal Spark Crisis

Yet, within hours of the December 1 order, the temple’s Executive Officer filed an urgent appeal to a Division Bench, challenging the directive and seeking a stay.

Critics, including heritage advocate TR Ramesh, labeled this as “fraudulent” interference by the DMK-controlled HR&CE, which administers over 38,000 Hindu temples but has faced accusations of diverting funds and suppressing traditions.

The appeal argued that the single-judge order risked communal tensions, echoing CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan’s X post branding the Deepam a potential “riot lamp” and accusing “sectarian forces” of exploiting secularism.

By December 2, with the festival eve approaching, the HR&CE’s refusal crystallized. Local authorities, citing the pending appeal, withheld permissions and security arrangements, effectively stonewalling the temple management’s compliance.

Petitioners returned to court, prompting Justice Swaminathan’s stern rebuke on December 3: “Despite vast powers, courts lack the ability to ensure compliance—a judgment has little meaning if it cannot be enforced.”

In a bold pivot, the judge empowered the petitioners themselves to light the Deepam, bypassing the “recalcitrant” HR&CE. To avert any law-and-order fallout, he invoked the rare provision for CISF deployment, directing the Centre to provide “full security” for the ritual.

Hindus Protest

Hindus led by Hindu Munnani have taken to the streets to pushback against the DMK government’s draconian attitude in denying Hindus their fundamental right.

திருப்பரங்குன்றத்தில் முருகனை கும்பிட வந்த அப்பாவி பக்தர்கள் மீது காவல்துறை நடத்திய வெறித்தனமான தாக்குதலுக்கு எனது கடும் கண்டனங்கள்!

இந்துக்கள் என்றாலே இந்த தி.மு.க அரசுக்கு ஏன் இவ்வளவு கசப்பு? பக்தர்களை ஏதோ தீவிரவாதிகள் போல விரட்டி விரட்டி அடிப்பதுதான் உங்கள் ‘#திராவிடமாடல்‘… pic.twitter.com/uI3npa0kcn

— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) December 3, 2025

Protests break out at the Tiruparankundram hill temple in Madurai as the Deepam that was to be lit in the Deepathoon didn’t happen DESPITE the Madras HC order pic.twitter.com/jBiPtSwLzX

— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) December 3, 2025

Scuffle broke out between the police and protesting devotees as they attempted to cross the barriers erected.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed in Thirupparankundram.

The police at the spot are being grilled with questions by Hindu advocates while they have been taking instructions from above and denying entry to Hindus citing vague reasons.

A Watershed Moment For Hindus In Tamil Nadu

Today’s lighting, if it proceeds under CISF watch, could set a precedent for devotee-led enforcement of religious rights when state machinery falters. It also amplifies calls for HR&CE reforms, with activists demanding audits of temple lands amid encroachment fears. The DMK government, has once again shown its anti-Hindu face which is going to eventually lead to Hindu consolidation.

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The post Thirupparankundram Hill Karthigai Deepam Row: DMK Govt Violates HC Order, ‘Dravidian Model’ Police Stop Devotees, Court Allows Lamp To Be Lit With CISF Protection appeared first on The Commune.

In a fresh twist to the ongoing religious and heritage dispute at the iconic Thiruparankundram hill, the Executive Officer (EO) of the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple has filed an appeal against a recent Madras High Court directive allowing the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam at the ancient Deepathoon atop the hill.

The move has sparked widespread outrage among devotees and heritage activists, who view it as an attempt to undermine a centuries-old Tamil Hindu tradition.The High Court, in a ruling delivered just hours ago, quashed the EO’s earlier administrative order that had redirected the lighting to the temple’s Dheepa Mandapam instead of the hilltop lamp post. Justice G.R. Swaminathan, presiding over the single bench, emphasized that the Deepathoon is unequivocally temple property and that the practice poses no infringement on the rights of the adjacent Muslim dargah community. The judge noted that lighting the lamp atop the hill is a Tamil tradition, and that the dargah management has not demonstrated how they will be affected.

The controversy centers on the shared sacred space of Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai, which houses one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan for Hindus and the revered Malik Durgah for Muslims. The Deepathoon, a stone pillar lamp dating back centuries, has been the site of the Karthigai Deepam ritual—symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness—during the festival in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December). Devotees argue that shifting the lighting disrupts this unbroken tradition, while dargah representatives have raised concerns over potential encroachments on their space.

Roots of the Dispute

The flare-up traces back to early 2025, when simmering tensions over religious practices and property rights on the hill reignited public and legal battles.

Petitions before the Madras High Court sought not only permission for the hilltop lighting but also a ban on animal sacrifices at the dargah and retention of the hill’s historic name, rejecting attempts to rename it “Sikkandar Malai.” In October 2025, the court upheld the traditional nomenclature and imposed restrictions on certain dargah rituals, underscoring the need to balance coexisting faiths without altering established customs.

A division bench of the High Court reserved its judgment on November 29 after hearing arguments from both sides, including allegations that the Dheepa Mandapam—proposed as an alternative site—is already used for a separate “Moksha Deepam” ritual, making it unsuitable.

The single-judge order today paves the way for the festival lighting as scheduled, but the EO’s immediate appeal to a division bench threatens to delay proceedings.

Activist T.R. Ramesh asserts that the so-called Executive Officer of the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple holds no legitimate position, functioning merely as an unauthorized agent of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. He argues that this individual lacks any statutory power to lodge the recent writ appeal challenging the Madras High Court’s ruling or to act on behalf of the temple in judicial matters, rendering him legally nonexistent—a “person non-est.” Ramesh grounds his claim in a 2014 Supreme Court ruling (2014 V SCC 75), which invalidated HR&CE commissioners’ appointments of executive officers under Section 45 of the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Act due to the absence of prescribed rules. Furthermore, he contends that the temple’s 1983 bifurcation from the larger Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple complex in Madurai was procured through deceitful means, including fabricated affidavits and the suppression of critical facts before the Madras High Court, thus tainting the entire foundation of the EO’s role.

There is no such person called Executive Officer of Sri Subramania Swamy temple, Tirupparankundram.
There is only a servant of the @tnhrcedept who falsely states that he is the Executive Officer of the temple.

He has NO authority to file this Writ Appeal or to represent… https://t.co/GJ4W7T4W8Z

— trramesh (@trramesh) December 2, 2025

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The post HR&CE Official Appeals Against Madras High Court Order Permitting Lighting Of Karthigai Deepam At Deepathoon Atop The Thiruparankundram Hill appeared first on The Commune.

In yet another instances of Congress leaders making objectionable remarks against Hinduism, Telangana Revanth Reddy went on to publicly ridicule the Hindu pantheon by mocking the multiplicity of Gods and their attributes.

“How many gods do Hindus believe in? Are there three crore? Why do so many exist? There is one god for those who are unmarried — Hanuman. There is another god for those who marry twice. And there is yet another god for those who drink alcohol. For hen sacrifice, there is one; for dal and rice, there is one. Each group has its own god,” Reddy said as reported in India Today.

హిందూ దేవుళ్ళను అపహాస్యం చేయడం ప్రతి ఒక్కడికి ఒక ఫ్యాషన్ అయిపోయింది.

ఒక ముఖ్యమంత్రి స్థాయిలో ఉండి కోట్ల మంది హిందువుల మనోభావాలు దెబ్బతినే విధంగా @revanth_anumula రేవంత్ రెడ్డి గారు దేవుళ్ళ పైన కారెడ్డాలాడుతూ మాట్లాడడం దురదృష్టకరం.

ఏ ఎండకు ఆ గొడుగు పట్టే రేవంత్ రెడ్డి… pic.twitter.com/zMGmVBEA4e

— Rakesh Reddy Anugula (@RakeshReddyBRS) December 2, 2025

These statements quickly provoked backlash from opposition parties. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accused him of insulting Hindu beliefs and demanded an immediate apology. The BJP state leadership described the remarks as shameful for millions of Hindus, while BRS leaders called the comments a crude attempt to mock faith — suggesting the remarks might be more than a slip of tongue.

Revanth Reddy had earlier courted controversy saying “Congress means Muslims and Muslim means Congress”. He also sparked controversy by questioning how many Rafale jets were shot down by Pakistan.

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The post “One God For Drinkers, One For Those Who Marry Twice”: Telangana Congress CM Revanth Reddy Makes Offensive Comment Against Hindu Gods appeared first on The Commune.

More than 85,000 postgraduate teacher in Tamil Nadu have failed the mandatory Tamil language eligibility test conducted by the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB), raising serious alarm over the quality of prospective teachers in a state that prides itself on linguistic identity.

The exam—introduced in 2022 as a compulsory qualifying test for all state competitive exams—required only 20 out of 50 marks and is widely considered equivalent to a Class 10–level Tamil paper. Despite this low bar, an overwhelming number of candidates, including many native Tamil speakers, failed to clear it.

The recruitment drive aimed to fill 1,996 PG teacher posts, with more than 2.2 lakh applicants appearing for the examination. Those who failed the Tamil eligibility paper were disqualified outright, as their primary subject answer sheets were not evaluated.

Educationists have expressed shock, calling the mass failure a reflection of deeper systemic problems in teacher training, linguistic proficiency, and academic standards in the state.

This mass failure is seen as a worrying indicator for Tamil proficiency and has prompted broader questions about the future quality of teaching and learning in government schools across the state, as many candidates had studied Tamil as their mother tongue throughout schooling but still failed to meet the minimum standard required for the teaching profession.

Source: Dinamalar

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The post Dravidian Model Tamil Nadu: 85000 Teachers Fail In Tamil appeared first on The Commune.