The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, raised specific questions on whether the Dargah at Thirupparankundram hill has legally established ownership over the land where the Deepathoon (stone pillar) is located, while hearing a batch of appeals against a single judge’s order permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the site.
The Division Bench comprising Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan questioned the Wakf Board and Dargah management on the factual basis of their land ownership claims. The Bench asked whether the area claimed by the Dargah had been formally measured and whether documentary evidence existed to establish ownership.
“Has the Dargah-owned area been measured? Are there documents regarding the land owned by the Dargah?” the judges asked during the hearing.
Appearing for the Wakf Board and the Dargah management, senior counsel Abdul Mubeen submitted that while the entire Thirupparankundram hill belongs to the temple, specific portions including Nellithoppu, the Dargah, the steps leading to it, the new mandapam and adjoining areas were declared as belonging to the Dargah in a 1920 civil suit. He further claimed that the area referred to as the Deepathoon fell within Dargah land.
Responding to the court’s query, Abdul Mubeen stated that the land had been measured and that ownership documents were available, following which documents were submitted before the Bench.
The Bench also indicated that it would ascertain the stand of other parties on the possibility of an amicable settlement, even as it continued to examine the competing claims over the land on which the Deepathoon stands.
The appeals arise from a December 1 order of a single judge directing the temple administration to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon. Multiple appeals have since been filed by the State government, district administration, police authorities, the Dargah management, and the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board challenging both the original order and subsequent directions issued in contempt proceedings.
Source: Dinamalar
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