Overview
- The Madras High Court’s division bench dismissed the state’s appeal and left intact a single-judge order allowing the Karthigai Deepam to be lit at the Deepathoon pillar with CISF protection.
- Contempt proceedings against district and police officials for non-compliance remain active, with the single judge seeking a CISF report on obstruction and adjourning the matter to December 9.
- The Tamil Nadu government has filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, which said it would consider early listing, and no stay of the High Court’s orders has been reported.
- Despite successive court directions, police prevented petitioners from reaching the pillar, the lamp was not lit at the hilltop, and BJP leaders and other protesters were detained as cases were registered.
- The dispute spilled into Parliament with sharp exchanges between DMK and BJP members, while courts and parties cited historical findings, including the 1931 Privy Council ruling on hill ownership, and law-and-order concerns.