The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court will hear a fresh contempt case this Tuesday concerning the lighting of a ceremonial lamp on Tirupparankundram hill during the Karthigai Deepam festival. Justice G.R. Swaminathan will once again preside over the matter. The petition alleges that the authorities deliberately ignored a prior court order giving permission to light the lamp on a normally disallowed spot at the hilltop. According to the petitioner, despite clear directives, the order was not carried out. When the case first came before the court, the petitioner claimed that devotees were barred from performing the ritual and that police failed to provide adequate security. The petitioner further alleged that some devotees were detained and that the temple premises were effectively closed off, preventing compliance with the court’s direction.
The State government has requested a pause in the proceedings, arguing that an appeal on the same issue has already been filed with the Supreme Court. Because of the pending apex‑court case, the government has asked for a stay on further contempt action. In response to these developments, Justice Swaminathan previously ordered the Commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to submit a report detailing why security was not provided for the lamp‑lighting at the hilltop. The judge also asked whether any obstruction came from within the security establishment or from other agencies, and the hearing was adjourned after that directive.
Now, with the case back on the docket today, the focus will be on assigning responsibility for the alleged non‑implementation of the earlier court order and on the role played by various authorities during the festival. The case has attracted widespread public interest because of the sensitive religious setting of Tirupparankundram and the broader issues it raises about enforcing judicial orders at high‑profile religious events. The outcome of today’s hearing will likely set the next step in the contempt proceedings.
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