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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