CHENNAI: The Madras High Court's Madurai Division Bench on Tuesday upheld single judge Justice GR Swaminathan's order allowing lighting of a lamp on what is claimed as 'Deepathoon' (stone pillar) on the Thirupparankundram hill, which houses both the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy temple and the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah.
A Division Bench of Justices G Jayachandran, KK Ramakrishnan delivered the judgment, making it clear that the spot on which the stone pillar (Deepathoon) is located belongs to the Lord Subramania Swamy Temple. They said the challengers had failed to produce any convincing material to show that lighting the lamp was prohibited under the Agama Shastras, according to a Bar and Bench report.
The Court also rejected the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board’s claim that the stone pillar belonged to the dargah, calling the submission “mischievous”. It observed that the customary practice of lighting the deepam at an elevated spot enables devotees at the foothills to see and worship the lamp, and that there was no valid reason to deny such a request.
Dismissing law and order concerns, the Bench said it was “ridiculous and hard to believe” that lighting a lamp on temple land by the temple administration could disturb public peace, unless such disturbances were “sponsored by the State”.
The Court directed that the public should not accompany the temple devasthanam during the lighting of the lamp at Deepathoon and asked the district collector to supervise and coordinate the event, according to the report.
It also said the guidelines laid down in its judgment would allow both Hindu and Muslim communities to celebrate their festivals at the hillock without disturbing each other, stressing the need for peaceful coexistence and freedom of religion.
The petitioner, Rama Ravikumar, welcomed the judgment and described it as a victory for the devotees of Lord Muruga.