The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has concluded the hearing of the appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the order of a single judge regarding the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepam Pillar atop the Thirupparankundram hill.
Several parties, including the Sikandar Dargah administration, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, and Hindu Munnani, had filed intervention petitions in the matter. The detailed hearing on these petitions commenced last Friday and continued for five consecutive days, concluding on Tuesday.
The appeal was heard by a Division Bench comprising Justices Jayachandran and Ramakrishnan. The judges stated that all related cases, including the appeal against the contempt proceedings pending before the single judge, would be taken up for further hearing on January 7.
The court also directed all parties to submit their written arguments by the end of the day. Without fixing a specific date for pronouncement of the verdict, the bench adjourned the case.
The outcome of the case continues to be closely watched by various stakeholders, given its legal, religious, and administrative implications.
