States » SouthPosted at: Dec 16 2025 7:54PM


Deepam row: Setback for TN as HC Bench declines to stay contempt proceedings before single judge

Chennai, Dec 16 (UNI) In a setback for the DMK government, a Division Bench of Madras High Court has refused to stay the contempt proceedings before a single judge with regard to the non-compliance of lighting 'Karthigai Deepam' at a stone pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hillock, adjoining a 14th century dargah, claimed to be 'deepathoon', pillar for lighting deepam.
Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan, hearing a batch of appeals challenging the December 1 order of Justice GR Swaminathan, directing lighting of deepam at the stone pillar declined to stay the contempt proceedings before the single judge. The Bench also rejected the plea to exempt the Chief Secretary and the Additional DGP from personal appearance and directed to approach the single judge.
Justice Swaminathan had directed the authorities of the Subramania Swami temple, at the hillock's foothill, to light the deepam at the stone pillar so as to assert the property right of the temple over the area adjoining the Sikkandar Badusha Dargah, in addition to the customary place at the Uchi Pillayar temple in the middle of the hillock, right above the Murugan temple below. The single judge had said that the practice of lighting deepam at the stone pillar was a tradition which had been abandoned.
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Tags: #Deepam row: Setback for TN as HC Bench declines to stay contempt proceedings before single judge
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