Madras High Court Reverses Decision on Thirupparankundram Lamp Lighting, Allows Ritual to Proceed

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In a significant development, the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench has upheld a single judge's ruling permitting the lighting of a ceremonial lamp at the historic Thirupparankundram hill shrine in Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Deepathoon. The court's decision comes after a long-standing dispute over the location of the lamp lighting ritual. The Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which claims ownership of the hill, had previously been allowed to light the lamp at the nearby Deepa Mandapam, a practice that had been followed for years. However, the court's single judge, Justice G R Swaminathan, had directed state officials to allow the lamp to be lit at the top of the hill, sparking concerns over law and order. The state government had challenged the order, but the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench has now upheld the decision, allowing the ritual to proceed. The court has also clarified that the lamp may be lit and the number of persons permitted to be at the location can be fixed, in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The hill, which is a protected monument, is home to several historic temples and a dargah, and any activity carried out there must strictly follow the provisions of the Act. The Thirupparankundram hill has long been a symbol of interfaith harmony, with different communities living in peace. However, tensions have risen in recent years, including in February last year, when protests were held after a member of parliament was accused of eating meat on the hill. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described Thiruparankundram as the 'Ayodhya of the South', a reference to the disputed temple site in Uttar Pradesh. The court's decision is seen as a significant development in the ongoing dispute over the lamp lighting ritual, and is likely to have implications for the management of the hill and its historic structures.