• உலக செய்திகள் MADRAS HIGH COURT UPHOLDS ORDER FOR KARTIGAI DEEPAM ON TIRUPPARANKUNDRAM HILL
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• ramani on 2026-01-07 11:00:57

Padmasri, 

CHENNAI, 6 JANUARY 2026 – The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court today upheld a directive allowing the lighting of the traditional Kartigai Deepam on the summit of Tirupparankundram Hill, rejecting appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government and the Tirupparankundram Temple Devasthanam.

 

The division bench, consisting of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan, affirmed the ruling of single judge Justice G.R. Swaminathan, which had permitted the ritual based on a 1961 temple publication documenting the long-standing practice.

 

In their submission, the state government and temple administration had contested the order, citing lack of conclusive evidence for the existence of the hilltop lamp pillar and raising concerns over potential law and order issues, as the site also houses a dargah.

 

However, the bench ruled that claims of possible public disturbance were \"unfounded and unacceptable\" and noted there was no credible evidence linking the lamp pillar to the dargah.

 

The court has mandated strict safeguards for the ritual, including restricted access to only temple officials – with no general public entry permitted. The Archaeological Survey of India has been instructed to preserve all monuments at the site, while the district administration will be responsible for ensuring safety and maintaining public order during the ceremony.