Madurai HC shocks DMK! Hilltop Karthigai Deepam allowed, court slams ‘unnecessary politicisation’ – Hindus celebrate big victory!

A division bench comprising Justices G Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan passed the order while imposing certain restrictions, including limited public access to the ceremony.

The court directed that the lamp lighting must be conducted in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and in strict compliance with all provisions of the law, considering the hill is a protected site.

Earlier, on December 1 last year, a single-judge bench of Justice G.R. Swaminathan had ordered the ceremonial lighting of the lamp on the festival day, acting on a petition filed by Hindu Tamil Party leader Rama Ravikumar.

Despite the single-judge order, authorities had declined permission citing potential law and order concerns.

Temple authorities maintained that the ceremonial lamp had been lit continuously for over a hundred years in accordance with established customs and Agama practices.

However, the state government and other authorities contested the claim, stating there was no conclusive evidence of such a practice on the hilltop and arguing that the event could disturb public order.

They also cited the sensitivity on the hill that also locates a 'dargah'.

Reacting to the division bench verdict, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—the ruling party at the Centre but in opposition in Tamil Nadu—described the decision as a victory for Hindus and criticised the DMK-led state government.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a post on X that the verdict marked a “huge win for Hindu faith” in Tamil Nadu and termed it an embarrassment for the state government.