SC notice to Centre, TN over temple takeover plea by ASI

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu Government, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and others on a petition seeking directions on the ASI’s takeover of the Thirupparankundram Temple and daily lamp lighting on top of the ‘deepathoon’ (stone pillar).

A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M Pancholi asked the respondents to respond to the petition filed by the Hindu Dharma Parishad.

The petitioner has sought directions that the ASI take control of the Thirupparankundram Lord Murugan Subramaniya Temple at Madurai and on lighting one lamp on top of the ‘deepathoon’ at all times.

The parishad also sought directions that every year on the day of Karthigai in the month of Karthigai, the entire hill should be lit up with lamps and Muruga devotees should be allowed to perform puja.

The Madras High Court had on January 6 upheld a single judge’s order allowing the lighting of a lamp on the Thirupparankundram Hill and slammed the DMK government, calling “ridiculous” its claim that lighting of the lamp will cause disturbance to public peace. Later, a Division Bench of the high court made it clear that the spot on which the stone pillar was located belonged to the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple.