In Thiruparankundram, during the lighting of the lamp at the ancient stone lamp pillar, the State police refused to allow devotees to light the lamp after the High Court Division Bench dismissed their appeal while revoking the Section 144 prohibitory orders issued by the District Magistrate. Police arrested Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenderan, H Raja and other party karyakartas.
Hours after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed the appeal preferred by the State, upholding the single judge’s order and giving a free hand to deal with contempt of court proceedings, Justice G Swaminathan in his order dated December 4 said, “When legislatures including Parliament cannot nullify a judgment of the Constitutional Courts except in the manner indicated above, a District Magistrate cannot do so. The conduct of the District Magistrate can be examined after he enters appearance. But his order cannot be allowed to stand even for a second. If the officers are allowed to defy court’s orders in this fashion, it will lead to anarchy. Such a situation is impermissible and must be nipped in the bud. Since the prohibitory order issued by the Collector overreaches the order passed by this Court, it stands quashed. … When the Constitutional Court had declared the rights of the parties, the duty of the District Administration as well as the jurisdictional police is to assist and aid in its enforcement. An order passed under Section 163 of BNSS cannot be in contravention of the judicial order passed by a Constitutional Court.”
The anti-Hindu DMK government has once again willfully defied the court’s order by preventing devotees from lighting the sacred Karthigai Deepam lamp atop the Thiruparankundram temple hill.
Vehemently condemn the TN Police for the arrest of @BJP4TamilNadu State President Thiru… pic.twitter.com/aXkvvY8xMP
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 4, 2025
In his 22-page order, the Judge in the strictest terms warned: “The Division Bench had confirmed the order passed by this Court. Since I have great regard and respect for the State Police, even while permitting the writ petitioners along with their associates numbering ten to go up the Hill and light the Deepam at the Deepathoon, I direct J. Loganathan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, as well as the police force under him, to give fullest protection and bundobust to effectuate the direction passed in favour of the writ petitioners. I make it clear that if this order is disobeyed, harsh consequences will ensue. Thiru J. Loganathan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, is present before this Court through VC mode and this order was dictated in his presence.”
The single judge said, “Today (04.12.2025) is Sarvalaya Deepam Day. Therefore, Karthigai Deepam can be lit today also. This order should be read along with the earlier orders passed by this Court. Except deputing the CISF Personnel and the change regarding the date, in all other respects, the directions issued yesterday (December 3) hold good.”
The court further said, “When the writ petitioners along with their associates went to the foothill accompanied by CISF Personnel, Loganathan, CoP, Madurai City, restrained them from proceeding further up the hill. The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, informed the petitioners as well as the CISF team that in view of the promulgation of the order bearing No. C3/2952850/2025 dated 03.12.2025 under Section 163 of BNSS, 2023, by the District Magistrate and District Collector, Madurai, he was not in a position to respect the order of this Court. In these circumstances, the CISF team returned. The petitioners, though expressly permitted by this Court to light the Deepam, were not able to do so.”
Summarising the turn of events, the judge said, “From the sequence of events, it is too obvious that the prohibitory order referred to above was passed only to nullify the directions given by this Court and to give a convenient reason to the jurisdictional police to defy the order of this Court. When a judicial order has been passed, that too by a Constitutional Court, so long as it is holding good, it has to be enforced. Article 261 of the Constitution of India reads that full faith and credit shall be given throughout the territory of India to judicial proceedings of the Union and of every State. Final judgments or orders delivered or passed by civil courts in any part of the territory of India shall be capable of execution anywhere within that territory according to law. Thus, this Article mandates that the jurisdictional police are obliged to assist in the enforcement of the order of this Court. They cannot defy for any reason whatsoever.”
The Madurai commissioner who refused to obey the court orders yesterday has been asked to provide protection to the petitioners while they scale the hill to light the lamp failing which serious actions could ensue .
This is what happens when you politicise the police force .
No… pic.twitter.com/g7Tz3tJARM— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) December 4, 2025
Armed with court orders, when the devotees went to light the lamp, A. G. Inigo Thivyan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, warned them: “Disperse or get arrested. Can’t allow you to light the lamp at the stone pillar.” Tense moments prevailed. The court has now asked the CoP to file a compliance report by 10.30 pm today (December 4) instead of tomorrow morning, following the current situation. Whether they will allow it by that time remains a big question. Police said they have gone on appeal challenging the revocation of Section 144 orders. Petitioner Rama Ravikumar has filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court if Tamil Nadu proceeds against the Division Bench order.
Critics say, “The DMK government has deliberately created tension and is thereby expecting violence. It did not act when Muslims ate biryani atop the hill nor prevented Muslims who marched with animals to sacrifice at the sacred hillock. CM Stalin’s adamant stand of disallowing Hindus from offering spiritual rituals reflects the DMK’s stubborn stance of minority appeasement.”
