MADURAI: In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench upheld a directive permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop Thiruparankundram hill. This decision, made on January 6, 2026, underlines the court’s recognition of the ritual's cultural importance, despite appeals from state authorities and various religious bodies challenging the order previously mandated by Justice G. R. Swaminathan.

The panel, comprising Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan, directed that the temple administration should oversee the lighting of the lamp, ensuring adherence to conditions set by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to safeguard the heritage site. The court dismissed the claims by the state, labeling their concerns regarding law and order as an “imaginary ghost”—a notion unsubstantiated by evidence.

In contextualizing its ruling, the court condemned attempts by the state government and district administration to oppose the ritual on the pretext of maintaining peace. “We find that the apprehensions regarding public order are unfounded and created for convenience to sow distrust among communities,” the bench asserted. This decision becomes pivotal as it asserts the rights of the devotees to celebrate their traditions freely, particularly at a site shared with a dargah, bringing attention to the delicate balance of communal interests.

The court's findings centered on the historical usage of Deepathoon for the Karthigai Deepam festival, rejecting arguments that lighting the lamp contradicts customary practices. The ruling also highlighted the need for the District Collector to collaborate with law enforcement and ASI officials to facilitate the event, reassuring that the number of participants would be considered to maintain harmony among the Hindu and Muslim communities.

The court's ruling emphasized a commitment to communal harmony while upholding the religious rights of those who wish to celebrate the Karthigai Deepam tradition at this historically significant location. This case marks an important intersection of law, culture, and community relations in contemporary India.