The state government challenged a petition in the Supreme Court seeking Archaeological Survey of India control and changes to religious celebrations.
The Tamil Nadu government has filed an opposition in the Supreme Court against a petition seeking to transfer control of the Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy temple and Thirupparankundram hill to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). According to reports from India Today, the plea also seeks to modify the traditional Karthigai Deepam celebrations in Madurai.
The petitioner, Hindu Dharma Parishad, has requested three specific directions: handing the temple and hill over to the ASI, maintaining a constant flame at the Deepathoon stone pillar, and lighting the entire hill during the Karthigai Deepam festival. The dispute involves the location of the sacred lamp, which has been lit at the Deepa Mandapam near the Uchipillaiyar temple for decades.
In an affidavit filed before Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department argued that temple ownership and religious customs are already settled. HR&CE Commissioner TG Vinay stated that a 1923 civil court decree, restored by the Privy Council in 1931, recognises the temple's ownership of the hill.
The department noted that the current practice of lighting the lamp at the lower slopes has continued for over 150 years. The affidavit warned that moving the lighting location closer to the Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badusha Auliya dargah could cause law-and-order issues due to past communal tensions.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the petition on November 17.
