A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging a Madras High Court order that permitted the lighting of a ceremonial lamp at the Thirupparankundram hill, subject to conditions imposed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and police. The petitioner contends this dilutes the religious autonomy of the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple and amounts to judicial overreach.
The Supreme Court is set to examine the validity of a Madras High Court ruling that allowed the lighting of a traditional lamp at the historic Thirupparankundram hill, near the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple, contingent upon administrative clearances.
Petitioner Rama Ravikumar, who originally approached the High Court seeking permission to light the Karthigai Deepam at the ‘Deepathoon’ (a stone pillar atop the hill), has now moved the apex court, alleging that the division bench order dated January 6 unjustly restricted a time-honoured religious practice.
Ravikumar argues that the High Court’s conditional approval violates binding civil court decrees that have recognised the temple’s ownership and control over the hill. The temple’s right to perform rituals at the Deepathoon, he said, is an “essential religious practice” and cannot be subjected to administrative interference unless supported by express legislation.
He has termed the High Court’s directions as an “impermissible judicial intrusion” into matters of faith. The conditions imposed—consultation with ASI and police, prohibition on public participation, and limitations on the number of temple representatives—are seen as fresh substantive restrictions without legal basis, according to the petitioner.
The plea also invokes Article 14 of the Constitution, alleging discriminatory treatment. Ravikumar claimed that while followers of another faith are allowed unhindered access to the Nellithope area of the hill, Hindu devotees are met with “layered administrative controls” that hinder worship practices.
On January 23, the Supreme Court had already issued notice in a connected matter filed by the Hindu Dharma Parishad, which seeks directions for daily lamp lighting at the Deepathoon and a formal ASI takeover of the temple complex.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court in its January 6 ruling had clarified that the spot housing the Deepathoon belongs to the temple. The court also observed that the appellants had failed to demonstrate any prohibition under the Agama Sastra against lighting lamps in such locations, thereby allowing the ritual to proceed.
However, the High Court had directed that the event be coordinated by the district collector and carried out strictly under the supervision of the ASI and local police, keeping in view the site’s status as an ancient monument.
Earlier, on December 1, a single bench of the High Court had permitted Ravikumar to light the ceremonial Karthigai Deepam. The state had appealed that decision, leading to the January 6 order now under challenge.
The matter is expected to be taken up for detailed hearing in the coming weeks, with the Supreme Court having sought responses from the Centre, Tamil Nadu government, and other parties.
