Legal Firestorm Erupts Over Sacred Lamp
A shocking legal battle has erupted in Tamil Nadu, pitting the state government against the Madras High Court. The government launched a midnight appeal to the Supreme Court, challenging a court order that gave devotees the green light to light a sacred lamp on a contested hilltop.
This unprecedented move has escalated the entire Thiruparankundram hill lamp issue into a national flashpoint, leaving everyone wondering what happens next.
High Court Throws Down the Gauntlet
The drama began when a single judge of the Madras High Court issued a fiery ruling. He not only approved the lamp lighting but also quashed a government prohibitory order, calling it a blatant attempt to defy the court. The judge even ordered police protection for the devotees, warning of serious consequences if his orders were ignored.
The government’s appeal to a larger High Court bench failed spectacularly, with the court upholding the original Madras High Court lamp lighting order. This solidified the dramatic Thiruparankundram temple lamp ruling and set the stage for the ultimate showdown.
An All-Night Scramble to the Supreme Court
Refusing to back down, the Tamil Nadu government worked through the night to file a Tamil Nadu Supreme Court petition. This major TN government legal challenge signals just how high the stakes are in the ongoing Tamil Nadu vs Madras HC case.
The core of the dispute is the controversial HC order on lamp lighting near dargah, a location with deep historical and religious sensitivities. The government is arguing that the court is interfering with a century-old tradition.
Tradition vs. Ritual: The Heart of the Conflict
Government officials claim the lamp has only ever been lit at a different temple for over 100 years. They are raising serious law and order concerns, especially given the pillar’s proximity to a Muslim shrine, fueling the tense Thiruparankundram Dargah dispute.
This entire Karthigai Deepam lamp controversy centers on whether this is a revival of a forgotten tradition or the start of a new, unauthorized one. Officials are treating the Thiruparankundram hilltop ritual case with extreme caution, fearing it could ignite tensions.

