Madurai: A division bench of the Madras High Court has imposed an interim stay on a single judge’s order that permitted individuals to light lamps atop the Thiruparankundram hill, while expressing strong displeasure over the prolonged litigation wasting valuable court time on what it termed a trivial matter.

Fresh stay and judicial observations

Against this backdrop, an appeal was filed challenging the single judge’s earlier order. The case came up for hearing today before a bench comprising Justices Sathish Kumar and Jyothiraman. The division bench issued an immediate interim stay on the single judge’s order that had permitted individuals to light lamps, and adjourned the next hearing to April 8.

During the proceedings, the judges offered several significant observations that drew attention to the nature of the dispute. They questioned why the temple administration itself could not have directly performed the rituals atop the hill, which would have avoided such complications altogether. The bench also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s stance, stating that the administration should not be obstinate in such matters and questioned why a simple issue was being blown out of proportion.

Background of the Thiruparankundram dispute

A protracted legal battle has been ongoing regarding the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the lamp pillar situated on the summit of the Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai. Last year, on the day of Thirukarthigai, Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench issued an order granting permission for certain individuals to light lamps at the site. However, it is alleged that the government did not implement this order, leading to contempt of court petitions being filed against officials including the Madurai District Collector, the City Police Commissioner, and the Executive Officer of the Thiruparankundram temple.