Explain repeated failure over Deepam lighting, asks Madras HC as state moves SC

The Deepathoon issue has become contentious after authorities refused permission for the lighting ceremony despite successive high court orders. While the festival of Karthigai Deepam is now over, the protests continue. On Friday, TN police registered a case against 113 people, including TN BJP president Nainar Nagenthran , senior party leader H Raja, and six women, who participated in a protest on December 4 to push for the lighting of a lamp atop the hill.

Amid the row, the DMK government has moved the Supreme Court, mentioning its special leave petition before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, seeking urgent hearing of its challenge to the high court’s directions permitting devotees to light the lamp. The CJI asked the state to get its plea numbered and listed, after the petitioner’s counsel accused the state of “staging a drama” to signal to the Madurai bench that the matter had now reached the apex court.

Back in the Madurai bench, justice GR Swaminathan began hearing a contempt petition against the Madurai Collector, the City Police Commissioner and the Executive Officer of the Arulmighu Subramania Swamy Temple, after he was informed that district authorities and local police had blocked devotees from reaching the hill on December 4, despite his clear instructions issued on December 1 and reiterated over the following days.