While allowing the lamp to be lit, the Madurai High Court clarified that the event would have restricted public access and must be conducted in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India, as the hill is a protected site.
BY PC Bureau
January 6, 2026: The Madurai High Court has upheld a single judge’s directive permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the stone pillar atop Thiruparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu, effectively settling a long-running and contentious dispute. A division bench comprising Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan observed that the issue had been “unnecessarily politicised.”
The Court said the district administration should have approached the matter as an opportunity to foster harmony between communities through mediation rather than allowing tensions to escalate. It further emphasised that as the hill is a protected monument, any activity carried out on its summit must strictly adhere to the provisions of the relevant conservation laws.
While affirming that the ceremonial lamp may be lit, the bench clarified that public access to the event would be restricted and subject to consultations with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
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The case stemmed from a petition filed by Hindu Tamil Party leader Rama Ravikumar, who sought directions to allow the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the hilltop pillar. On December 1 last year, Justice G.R. Swaminathan had allowed the plea and ordered that the lamp be lit on the festival day. However, the directive was not implemented after authorities cited potential law and order concerns.
BIG NEWS 🚨 Madras High Court upheld an order allowing lighting of Karthigai Deepam at a stone pillar near a dargah atop Thiruparankundram hills
Coming down strongly on the state’s objections, the bench termed it “ridiculous and hard to believe”
“We hope that no state would… pic.twitter.com/5mCrMkbZ9B
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) January 6, 2026
Temple authorities have consistently maintained that the hilltop pillar is the traditional site where the Karthigai Deepam has been lit for over a century, in line with established customs and Agama practices. The state government and sections of the administration, opposing the plea, argued that there was no conclusive evidence to prove the existence of a lamp pillar on the hill. They also warned that permitting the ritual could trigger law and order issues, noting the presence of a dargah on the hill and the sensitivities surrounding it.
The controversy had earlier intensified following the death of a 40-year-old man by self-immolation, an incident reportedly linked to the agitation over the issue.
BJP reaction
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the High Court’s verdict, describing it as a “huge win” for Hindu faith in Tamil Nadu. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised the ruling DMK, calling the verdict a “huge embarrassment” for the party. In a post on X, he claimed that “anti-Constitution, anti-Hindu forces” had been defeated and questioned whether their political allies would now apologise for backing them.
