MADRAS: The Madras High Court reinforced the significance of the Deepathoon pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hills, rejecting arguments that it served merely as a survey stone from the British era. The ruling emerged from a case involving the lighting of a lamp at this site, emphasizing its importance as a religious symbol rather than a remnant of colonial mapping activities.

The court, led by Justice G Jayachandran and Justice KK Ramakrishnan, scrutinized a publication from the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. This document, considered an authoritative record, detailed geographical markers in the Thiruparankundram region. The justices compared the features of the Deepathoon with those described in the survey and concluded that the distinctions proved its religious significance. “The findings clearly dismantle the arguments posed by private appellants seeking to classify it as merely a survey stone," the judges noted.

Officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department maintained that the Deepathoon served as a lamp post used by Jain monks for night gatherings, further establishing its historical and cultural relevance. In contrast, the District Collector expressed uncertainty about its original purpose. The court highlighted that while the local government had protective concerns for the site as an antiquity, worshippers were granted liberty in a 1994 verdict to light lamps at designated areas on the hill.

Amidst the ruling, the court acknowledged that the Thiruparankundram hills fall under protective legislation pertaining to ancient monuments. It mandated that the lighting of the lamp must comply with legal stipulations, granting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) authority to impose necessary measures for preservation.

Ultimately, the court directed the Devasthanam to light the lamp at the Deepathoon during the upcoming Karthigai Deepam festival, although underscoring that public attendance at the ceremony must be limited. This decision underscores a balancing act between honoring local religious practices and adhering to archaeological preservation laws.