TN Hill Shrine Lamp Row Reaches SC Amid Political Uproar

• A dispute over lighting a traditional lamp at a hill shrine near Madurai has escalated, involving political parties and the judiciary.
• The controversy centers on the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Deepathoon, near the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple and a dargah.
• A Madras High Court order mandated the lamp lighting, but local authorities' failure to implement it led to devotees attempting to light it, resulting in police intervention.
• The issue caused disruptions in Lok Sabha, with DMK accusing BJP of communal tension and BJP alleging denial of worship rights by the TN government.
• The Tamil Nadu government has appealed to the Supreme Court, citing potential law-and-order issues in the sensitive area.

Why It Matters: Local religious dispute escalates to national political and legal battle.