Thirupparankundram Hill : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Hindu Dharma Parishad's Plea For Daily Lamp Lighting & ASI Take Over

The Supreme Court today(January 23) issued notice in a writ petition filed by the Hindu Dharma Parishad seeking directions that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other central authorities take over the control of the entire Thirupparankundram Lord Murugan Subramaniya Swamy Temple and to light the lamp on the top of the Deepathoon(stone pillar) permanently for 24 hours daily. 

Parishad has also sought that on the day of Karthigai, the entire Thirupparankundram Hill should be lit with lamps and Muruga devotees should be allowed to worship. 

A bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M Pancholi issued the notice to the Union Government, the ASI, the State of Tamil Nadu, HR&CE Department, Madurai District Collector, Madurai Police Commissioner, and the Executive Officer of the Subramaniya Swamy Temple.

When the matter was taken up, Justice Kumar asked if the matter was still pending in the Madras High Court. The counsel for the State of Tamil Nadu mentioned that on January 6, the division bench had upheld the single judge's order for the lighting of the lamp, and parties are contemplating filing a special leave petition challenging the order.

It may be recalled that Justice Swaminathan of the High Court, on December 1, ordered the management of Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light a lamp at a stone pillar atop the Thirupparankundram hill near a dargah, and later reprimanded the State Government for obstructing the implementation of the order.

As the Tamil Nadu Government failed to implement the orders, a contempt petition was filed for non-compliance, in which Justice Swaminathan, on December 3, allowed devotees to go to the hill and light the deepam themselves with CISF protection. The bench also quashed the prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC and directed the state's Chief Secretary and Additional Director General of Police (L&O) to appear before the High Court.

The Tamil Nadu Government filed a letter patent appeal against the contempt order. However, it was dismissed by the division bench, pursuant to which they approached the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the state, police, Dargah, and the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board approached the division bench against the order of the single judge.

It should be noted that on January 6, a division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice KK Ramakrishnan upheld the single judge's order. 

Case Details: HINDU DHARMA PARISHAD v THE UNION OF INDIA AND ORS|W.P.(C) No. 1280/2025