Deepam row | Madras High Court upholds single judge's ruling allowing lighting of lamp

Deepam can be lit every year atop Thiruparankundram Hills, says the court; it disallows participation of general public

The Madurai bench of Madras High Court has upheld a single judge's order allowing lighting of 'Karthigai Deepam' atop a 'Deepathoon' in Thiruparankundram Hills near Madurai.

A division bench of Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramachandran said the deepam can be lit every year.

The bench criticised the DMK dispensation and the Madurai district administration for citing possible disturbance to peace as a reason for opposing the single judge's order.

The State government had refused to comply with the single judge’s order on December 3 by lighting the lamp at the Uchipillayar Temple as per tradition.

The government disallowed the petitioner, on whose prayer the judge, Justice G R Swaminathan, delivered the verdict, to proceed to the hills.

The division bench said the temple administration should light the lamp and disallowed the participation of general public.