The controversy surrounding the lighting of the Karthigai deepam (lamp) on the Deepathoon (stone lamp pillar) atop the Thiruparankundram hillock escalated further on Monday, 9 December 2025, with the Madras High Court summoning two senior State officials to explain why its directions were not followed in the case.
Justice GR Swaminathan directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Chennai, to appear before the Court through video conference on 17 December 2025, after finding “repeated” breaches of his earlier orders permitting the lighting of the lamp atop the hill.
The judge noted that his December 3 order, allowing Hindu devotees to light the lamp, especially after the Subramania Swamy Temple administration failed to comply with the initial directive continued to be defied even after a Division Bench confirmed the order on 4 December 2025.
Justice Swaminathan remarked that such conduct could amount to contempt of court if it constituted wilful disobedience, and therefore said the responsible officers must explain their actions. He also observed that the pattern of non-compliance was not confined to this single case.
“I notice a definite pattern. I am certain that officials at the District Level would not dare to so brazenly defy the orders of this Court. Let me remind the officials concerned that their duty is to enforce the law and not go by dictates that are often issued orally,” the order stated.
The Court said it required clarity from the highest levels of State administration on whether instructions or circulars would be issued to guide district officials in handling such matters.
“But since such conduct is not confined to one District, I have to necessarily call upon the highest officers of the State to clarify the position. I would want to know from them if they propose to issue any circular or instructions for the guidance of the District level officers. I am not here to throw up my hands and helplessly cry ‘O Father, Forgive Them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ I direct the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Chennai to appear before this Court through VC on 17.12.2025 at 03.00 P.M.,” Justice Swaminathan ordered.
In highlighting what he termed a recurring pattern of non-compliance, the judge referred to two earlier cases involving Hindu religious practices that he said were similarly obstructed by local authorities.
He noted that he had previously ordered the reinstallation of a Lord Murugan statue at Mayiladum Parai in Kanyakumari, after finding that it had been “illegally” removed on a complaint by one Wilson, said to represent the Christian community. “Till date, the administration has refused to enforce the order of this Court,” he remarked.
He also cited the situation in Perumalkovilpatti village in Dindigul district, where Christians, whom he observed form the majority, had allegedly prevented the Hindu community from celebrating Karthigai Deepam at “Mandu Kovil,” near the local Kaliamman temple. The judge said he allowed a petition in February 2025 supporting the Hindu community’s right to celebrate, but the district collector subsequently passed a prohibitory order enabling the police to flout the Court’s directions.
The present dispute concerns the Thirupparankundram hillock in Madurai, which houses both the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah and the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy temple. A group of devotees approached the High Court after the lamp atop the hill was not lit as part of the Karthigai Deepam festival.
On 1 December 2025, Justice Swaminathan ruled that the temple was obliged to light the lamp, holding that doing so would not violate the rights of the nearby dargah or affect Muslim devotees. When that order was not implemented, he passed a second order on December 3 permitting devotees to light the lamp themselves and directing the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to provide protection.
On Monday, the Commandant of the CISF unit attached to the High Court submitted a report stating that police officials led by the city commissioner prevented CISF personnel from carrying out the Court’s directive. Police cited a prohibitory order issued by the District Magistrate, under which no person was allowed to ascend the hill.
Justice Swaminathan dismissed this explanation, pointing out that “The prohibitory order had been quashed and the order was dictated in the presence of the Police Commissioner.”
He also rejected a request to refrain from proceeding further on the ground that the district authorities had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court. Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, representing the State, submitted that the auspicious dates for lighting the deepam had already passed.
The Court rejected these arguments, noting Singh’s own submission that the State might withdraw the Supreme Court appeal, given that a similar appeal was already pending before a Division Bench of the High Court and that the State did not wish to contest the same issue in multiple courts.
“I, therefore, conclude that as of this moment, the Hon’ble Supreme Court is not seized of the issue,” Justice Swaminathan held.
He further recorded that the Division Bench had confirmed his 3 December 2025 order and granted no interim relief to the State. “The corollary is that the order passed by this Court (permitting devotees to light the lamp) is still holding good,” he observed.
Justice Swaminathan has listed the matter for further hearing on December 17. He also impleaded the Union Home Secretary as an additional respondent.
“Based on the submissions/clarifications to be made by the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Chennai, I may seek inputs from the Union Home Secretary,” the order stated.
Source: Bar and Bench
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