Thiruparankundram Hill Lamp Row: Madras High Court Orders Chief Secretary & Additional DGP To Appear Before Court Virtually

The Madras High Court has ordered the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Chennai, to appear before it through video conference for violation of its order pertaining to lighting of lamp at the Thiruparankundram hill.

The duo has been ordered to appear virtually on December 17, 2025 at 3 pm.

The Bench of Justice G.R. Swaminathan observed in the order, "I notice a definite pattern. I am certain that officials at the District Level would not dare to so brazenly defy the orders of this Court. Let me remind the officials concerned that their duty is to enforce the law and not go by dictates that are often issued orally. While the order of any administrative superior has to be complied with, this obligation does not extend to illegal orders."

Senior Advocates J.Karthikeyan and KPS.Palanivelrajan appeared for the Petitioner, while Additional Advocate General J.Ravindran appeared for the Madurai District Collector, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh for the Madurai City Commissioner of Police and Senior Advocate Jothi for the Executive Officer of Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple.

The Deputy Commandant of CISF had submitted a report to the Court that the Police Commissioner, accompanied by more than 200 police personnel stopped the CISF Contingent from proceeding further. It was also stated that the Police Commissioner said that the order of the High Court did not bear the signature of the Judge.

"At least on 03.12.2025, the State Police had the excuse of taking shelter behind the prohibitory order passed by the District Magistrate on the same day. But the Police had no defense whatsoever for refusing to enforce the order of this Court on the next day. The prohibitory order had been quashed and the order was dictated in the presence of the Police Commissioner. That is why, Thiru.J.Loganathan, IPS chose to be absent from the spot and handed over the baton to his deputy Thiru.A.G.Inigo Divyan", the Court noted in its order.

The Court refused to accept the argument by the Respondents that it should await the decision of the Division Bench in the appeal filed by the State against the main order in the Writ Petition.

It also refused to await the result of the SLP filed before the Supreme Court.

The Court noted, "It turns out that the State filed an SLP before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in a defective manner. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners would make a snide comment that even signature was not taken from one of the parties. I posed a specific question as to who could answer as to when the SLP would be listed. Shri.Vikas Singh, the learned Senior Counsel, voluntarily responded that the State does not want raise the same issue in different Fora and that he may even withdraw the SLP."

"I, therefore, conclude that as of this moment, the Hon'ble Supreme Court is not seized of the issue", the Court concluded.

The Court impleaded the Union Home Secretary as a respondent and observed, "Based on the submissions/clarifications to be made by the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Chennai, I may seek inputs from the Union Home Secretary."

The Court had initially directed the Temple Management to light the Karthigai Deepam at Dheepathoon (Ancient Stone Lamp Pillar), situated on the Thirupparankundram Hill top.

Despite an order of the Madras High Court passed in the contempt of court case allowing lighting of the Karthigai Deepam by the Petitioner under protective escort by the CISF, Tamil Nadu Police had prevented the ritual.

The Division Bench had dismissed the appeal filed by the District Collector and the Police Commissioner against the order passed in the contempt petition.

The Single Bench had then summoned the District Administration of Dindigul for violating its order.

Cause Title: Rama.Ravikumar v. K.J.Praveenkumar IAS & Ors. (Cont P(MD) No.3594 of 2025)

Appearance:

Petitioner: Senior Advocates J.Karthikeyan, KPS.Palanivelrajan and Advocate RM.Arun Swaminathan

Respondents: J.Ravindran, Addl. Advocate General, S.S.Madhavan, Addl. Government Pleader, Vikas Singh, Senior Counsel, Veera.Kathiravan Addl. Advocate General, S.Ravi, Addl. Public Prosecutor, Jothi, Senior Counsel and Advocate V.Chandrasekar

Click here to read/download Order