Thirupparankundram deepathoon row: Justice Swaminathan grants time to respond to his suggestion

The Board of Trustees of the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Thirupparankundram told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday that the court’s suggestion that respect could be shown to its earlier order allowing the Karthigai Deepam to be lit on the newly-identified deepathoon (stone pillar) atop Thirupparankundram hill by permitting five persons to go to the lower peak and offer symbolic prayers for 15 minutes, needs to be deliberated.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan was told his suggestion needs to be deliberated and a careful decision has to be taken after consulting the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The court dispensed with the appearance of the Board of Trustees.

Justice Swaminathan posted the contempt petitions related to the Karthigai Deepam row for hearing on March 18. The judge on Monday had suggested that respect could be shown to the court’s earlier order allowing the Karthigai Deepam to be lit on the deepathoon (stone pillar) atop the Thirupparankundram hill by permitting five persons named by the court to go to the lower peak where the pillar is and offer symbolic prayers for 15 minutes. The judge had said this was a suggestion and not a direction.

The judge made the suggestion after Madurai Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, in an additional affidavit, tendered an unconditional apology.

The Collector told the court the prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, was issued on the basis of the ground situation at Thirupparankundram and so as to maintain law and order.