The Madras High Court has quashed an FIR registered against more than 300 people who protested in 2025 against the non-lighting of Karthigai Deepam on Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai district. Justice R Vijayakumar on September 24 was hearing a petition filed by S Nallathambi seeking to quash the FIR registered against him by the Madurai City Police.
According to the prosecution, the petitioner and 303 others belonging to Hindu Munnani unlawfully assembled and raised slogans over the failure to honour the HC verdict by choosing not to light the Karthigai Deepam at the stone pillar atop the hill at around 5 pm on November 25, 2025. Thereafter, the case was registered and the protesters were arrested.
வழக்குகள் ரத்து
திருப்பரங்குன்றம் மலையில் தீபம் ஏற்றக் கோரி 2023ம் ஆண்டில் போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்ட 303 பேர் மீதான வழக்குகளை ரத்து செய்து மெட்ராஸ் உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரை அமர்வு உத்தரவு
"போராட்டக்காரர்கள் பொது சொத்துகளை சேதப்படுத்தியதாக எந்த குற்றச்சாட்டும் இல்லை. எந்த… pic.twitter.com/QPBnjJk3Ru
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) September 24, 2026
Counsel for the petitioner argued that it was a form of democratic protest and there was no inconvenience to the general public and no public property was damaged.
Justice Vijayakumar observed that, as per the FIR, the petitioner and others protested against the then state government (DMK) for not lighting the Karthigai Deepam at Thiruparankundram hill. The same cannot be considered to be a criminal offence, especially when there were no allegations that they caused inconvenience to the general public or caused damage to public property. The court said the other accused also stand on the same footing. Hence, the court quashed the FIRs registered against them all.
The judge said, “In such circumstances, continuation of the criminal proceedings against the petitioner and other accused would only be an abuse of process of law. In view of the above, the FIR stands quashed not only as against the petitioner but also as against the other accused”.
The court said that the police failed to make any allegations regarding public inconvenience or damage to public property during the demonstration.
The Madras High Court consequently quashed the FIR against Nallathambi as well as the other 303 accused.
வழக்குகள் ரத்து.! pic.twitter.com/SiJBwh3ONC
— MR.Anil (@Saffron_Anil_) September 24, 2026
In another development, Madurai Police prevented Muslims from carrying an induction stove and vegetables into Sikandar Badsha Dargah at Thiruparankundram hilltop. Police told them that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had banned cooking on protected premises. Police said cooking atop the hill requires ASI permission. Dargah management reportedly said that there was no ban on cooking and that the matter is pending in court. ASI officials said that they were waiting for a survey report and arrangements could be made as per the law if permission is sought.
In a video posted on social media linked to the above development, Ramalingam, State coordinator of Makkal Kalai Illakkiya Kazhagam (People’s Art and Literary Association), a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist outfit, found fault with the police, saying RSS-controlled police had prevented Muslims from carrying essentials to people who are at the dargah. He said it had deprived them of their daily food requirements. They carried a stove also. He condemned the police action, saying it affected religious harmony and their rights. People should join together to fight against RSS, BJP, Ambani-Adani groups, which are sowing seeds of animosity between Muslims and others and destroying social harmony and brotherhood. These elements want to create a wedge between them.
Critics say, “His video talk is per se anti-national, promoting divide-India nature and instigating Muslims to wage a war. Police should take note of this and initiate action against him.”
In February 2024, when Muslims tried to reach the hill carrying lamps and chicken to make qurbani feasts to be distributed to their community members, this started strong opposition from Hindus, Hindu Munnani, VHP, BJP and other Hindu outfits. This was the first trigger point which escalated it into a big issue and reached the courts.
The Karthigai Deepam lighting issue escalated into a major legal dispute in 2025 when a petition was filed seeking permission to light the Karthigai Deepam at the ancient stone atop the hill. In December 2025, Justice GR Swaminathan allowed the lighting of the lamp at the site, while the DMK government, Temple EO, police officers, IAS officer and others challenged the order. A division bench subsequently upheld the order in January 2026. The current TVK government moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s January 2026 order.
