Thirupparankundram Lamp Lighting Case: The Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Tuesday upheld the single judge's ruling allowing the lighting of lamp on 'Deepathoon'. Now, the temple Devasthanam can light a lamp on the 'Deepathoon'. The court's order reinforced established customs, ensuring the continuation of the religious observance at the significant Tamil Nadu temple.

What Went In Favour Of Hindu Devotees

Earlier on December 17, senior advocate S Sriram told the Madras High Court that concerns raised by district authorities over public disorder if Karthigai Deepam (lamp) was lit on a stone pillar near a dargah atop the Thirupparankundram hill, was "non-existent" aimed at stopping the Tamil culture.

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When the state was "unwilling" to enforce their rights, then the public could seek its enforcement, Sriram said, advancing his arguments on behalf of the devotees opposing appeals against the single judge order permitting the lighting of the lamp on Deepathoon on Karthigai Deepam festival.

The division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan, which heard the arguments in a batch of appeals challenging the December 1 order of Justice GR Swaminathan, for the fourth day today, sought to know if the devotees were willing for a negotiation. But the advocate declined.

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 The state, dargah, Waqf board, and Madurai district and temple officials who are the appellants in the case had on December 16 concluded their arguments which had continued for three consecutive days.

BJP Backs Hindu Devotees' Demand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained its stand that the opposition to lighting the lamp atop the Thirupparankundram hill was politically motivated and lacked understanding of the cultural significance. Senior party leader and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the state government's opposition is "unfortunate," and the Thirupparankundram hill shrine of Subrahmanya Swamy was an integral part of the state culture.

"It is unfortunate to do all the unethical things when the (Madurai Bench of the Madras) High Court has categorically given a decisive judgment that Hindus can light the lamp. The opposition to it is politically motivated. People find the opposition as unfortunate," the Minister told reporters after offering prayers at the ancient Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple.

(With PTI inputs)