Thirupparankundram Lamp Tower Case: TN Government to Approach Supreme Court

January 6, 2026

Chennai:  The Tamil Nadu government will challenge in the Supreme Court the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) order permitting the lighting of lamps at the *Deepa Thoon* (lamp tower) on the Thirupparankundram hill. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K. Raghupathi said on Tuesday that starting an entirely new tradition through a judicial order is “fundamentally wrong.”

‘Order Contradictory and Legally Unsustainable’

Speaking to the media in Chennai, the minister said the government is forced to appeal because the decision is legally flawed and goes against long-standing cultural traditions. He pointed out that the Madurai Bench, on the one hand, barred the general public from visiting the Deepstab, but on the other hand, allowed a group of individuals, led by the District Collector, to go there and light lamps.

“This is contradictory and legally inconsistent,” Raghupati said.

‘No historical evidence, imposing a new tradition is wrong’

The Minister stressed that there is no historical or documentary evidence that lighting lamps at the Deepstab on the Thirupparankundram Hill was ever a tradition.

“If a religious ritual is to be allowed at a place, it must be proven that the tradition existed previously. In this case, no such evidence was presented to the court,” he said.

He also added that the district administration had told the court that allowing the lighting of lamps could lead to a law and order situation and that no such tradition had ever existed before.

‘Respect for the judiciary, but will challenge the order’

Raghupathi clarified that the government is not questioning the institution of the judiciary.

“The judiciary cannot be insulted, but when an order is clearly illegal or without evidence, the government has every right to challenge it constitutionally,” he said.

The minister described the issue as sensitive, saying that the decision hurt Tamil sentiments and cultural continuity. The state government will soon file an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Madurai Bench’s order.