Madras HC Upholds Deepam Order: Temple Must Light Lamp on Madurai Hill, Rejects State Fears

• Madras High Court upheld an order directing the lighting of Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon atop Thiruparankundram hills.
• The court rejected the state's claims that the ritual could disturb public peace and communal harmony, calling them an "imaginary ghost."
• A Division Bench criticized the state's "ridiculous" stance and dismissed a "mischievous submission" that the stone pillar belonged to a dargah.
• The court emphasized the religious practice of lighting deepam at elevated places and directed the temple Devasthanam to light the lamp.
• DMK announced plans to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court, while BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan hailed the decision.

Why It Matters: Madras HC mandates Thiruparankundram temple to light Karthigai Deepam, dismissing state's law-and-order fears.