Madras High Court raps Tamil Nadu official for not implementing lamp-lighting order

Madras High Court pulled up the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu during the hearing of a contempt plea filed by a Hindu devotee against the state government over non-compliance with a court order on lighting the Karthigai Deepam ceremonial lamp at the ‘Deebathoon’ .

The contempt petition was filed alleging that the Tamil Nadu government failed to implement an earlier order passed by the single bench of Justice GR Swaminathan permitting the lighting of a lamp at the Deebathoon structure near the Sikandar Shah Dargah on the Thirupparankundram hill.

During the hearing, the Chief Secretary told the court that the order was not implemented due to potential law and order issues that could arise.

Justice GR Swaminathan responded that law and order concerns could not be cited as grounds to flout a court order and said such conduct was inexcusable.

The court observed that allowing such reasoning would lead to a paralysis of the constitutional machinery.

The contempt case was adjourned to January 9, 2026. The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Tamil Nadu, appeared before the court through video conferencing.

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