SC Notice to Centre, TN on ASI takeover plea for Thirupparankundram temple

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and other concerned parties on a plea seeking directions for the ASI to take over the administration of the Thirupparankundram Lord Murugan (Subramaniya Swamy) Temple in Madurai and permit continuous lamp lighting atop the historic deepathoon (stone pillar).

A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi was hearing a petition filed by the Hindu Dharma Parishad, which also sought directions for daily lighting of a lamp on the deepathoon and for illuminating the entire hill with lamps annually on the auspicious day of Karthigai Deepam, allowing devotees to offer prayers.

During the hearing, the apex court was informed that the Madras High Court, on January 6 , upheld a single judge’s order permitting the lighting of a lamp on the Thirupparankundram hill. Taking note of the submission, the Supreme Court sought detailed responses from all stakeholders and posted the matter for further hearing.

Earlier, a division bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan , had strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu government’s objection to the ritual, calling its claim that the lighting of the lamp would disturb public peace “ridiculous.” The court categorically held that the spot where the stone pillar stands belongs to the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple and that devotees have the right to perform customary religious practices.

The plea before the Supreme Court further seeks annual permission to illuminate the entire hill with lamps on the day of Karthigai in the Tamil month of Karthigai, a significant religious observance for Muruga devotees.

The case has rekindled debate over the administration and religious rights associated with one of Tamil Nadu’s most revered hill temples, as well as the role of the ASI in managing heritage religious structures.