Supreme Court to Hear Tamil Nadu Appeal on Madras HC Lamp

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge by the Tamil Nadu government against a lower court order permitting the lighting of a ceremonial lamp on a hill in Madurai, but declined to suspend the order while the case proceeds. The court issued notices on Monday, August 3, 2026, seeking responses from the original petitioners and other parties involved in the long-running dispute over religious practice at Thiruparankundram hill.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi directed that the state's petition be combined with a related pending case. The court questioned the state's delay in filing its appeal, noting the challenge was submitted in June against a High Court order from January. The state's petition was filed on June 11, shortly after the new government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay assumed office.

The state is challenging a January 6 ruling by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, which upheld a single judge's December 1, 2025, order. That order directed the management of the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at a stone pillar, known as the deepa thoon, atop the hill during the annual festival....