In another legal setback for the C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK government, the Supreme Court on Monday (August 3) refused to stay the Madras High Court’s orders permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam atop the ancient Deepa Thoon (stone pillar) on Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai. A Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi agreed to examine the validity of the High Court’s December 2025 and January 2026 orders but declined to grant interim relief to the State government at this stage.
Despite both the Single Bench and the Division Bench allowing the lighting of the lamp atop the ancient pillar, the TVK government challenged the order in the Supreme Court using temple funds.
Like its predecessor, the DMK government, the TVK government also failed to honour the court orders and instead moved the Supreme Court.
The Bench asked the Tamil Nadu government’s counsel, “If this situation had cropped up in January 2026, when this order came, what were you doing all this time?”
Ironically, the temple management challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court, stating that there was no established custom of lighting the lamp at the Deepa Thoon and asserting that the ritual had traditionally been performed at a different location.
It also stated that the practice was unsupported by temple records, Agama prescriptions or any prior decree. The Tamil Nadu government justified the delay in filing, with its counsel stating that the delay was due to the time taken to translate voluminous records before the matter could be effectively pursued.
The State also expressed concern over the contempt proceedings pending before the High Court for alleged non-compliance with its earlier directions.
The apex court asked the State government to mention the issue before the concerned Division Bench of the High Court rather than seeking interim protection from it.
The judges ordered the issuance of notices on the Tamil Nadu government’s appeal challenging the High Court’s December 2025 and January 2026 orders, asking the respondents to file their replies within six weeks. The Bench granted two weeks thereafter for the State government to file a rejoinder.
Counsel for the respondents argued, “The judgment is of December, January. They simply filed an SLP for the sake of it. They did not prosecute it for seven months. And now the State is with so much vehemence trying to push the matter. This is all just optics for what they want.”
They claimed that the State had relied on the pendency of its Supreme Court appeal to stall contempt proceedings before the High Court.
The issue stems from a petition filed by devotee Rama Ravikumar and others, who sought permission in October 2025 to light the traditional lamp at the Deepa Thoon. The temple administration, however, clarified that the festival would continue at its usual place near the Uchi Pillaiyar Temple.
Hindu Munnani has been taking up this issue for a long time. Last January, when Muslims tried to slaughter animals to prepare a feast, Hindus objected to it. The then DMK government also denied permission to Hindu Munnani to stage a protest. However, after obtaining court permission, the protest, held within scheduled time by honouring the High Court’s order, witnessed the participation of thousands of people.
On December 1, 2025, Justice G.R. Swaminathan directed the Devasthanam to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepa Thoon in addition to the usual places. The judge held that lighting the lamp at the pillar would honour Tamil tradition and periodically assert the temple’s title over its property. The Single Judge Bench directed the temple authorities to light the lamp atop the ancient stone pillar.
However, the temple authorities, police and the government refused to comply despite the Court setting a deadline on Karthigai Deepam day. Police arrested selected members of the team suggested by the High Court, with Central forces providing escort.
Contempt proceedings were initiated against the District Magistrate, Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police for their wilful disobedience of the court’s orders.
Pursuant to the court’s direction, N. Muruganandam and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S. Davidson Devasirvatham appeared before the court through video conferencing on December 17, 2025. However, the court was dissatisfied with the explanation given by the Chief Secretary, who also appeared through video conferencing.
A Division Bench comprising Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan upheld the Single Bench order. Meanwhile, the Single Bench dropped the contempt proceedings against the District Magistrate but continued them against the others.
Then the DMK government engaged senior lawyers using temple funds to oppose a decision that supported the interests of the temple. As the Assembly elections were approaching, it was alleged that the DMK government did not want to incur the displeasure of minorities.
After the change of government, the TVK government challenged the January 6 order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which had upheld the Single Judge’s December 1, 2025 order directing that the ceremonial lamp be lit on the festival day. The Tamil Nadu government had earlier challenged the contempt-related orders before the Supreme Court in December last year. However, that petition was never listed for hearing.
