Overview
- A Madras High Court division bench on Thursday upheld a single‑judge order permitting the Karthigai Deepam lamp to be lit at the Deepathoon with CISF protection, dismissing the state’s appeal as an attempt to pre‑empt contempt.
- Despite successive court directions, district police blocked access to the hilltop and imposed prohibitory measures later quashed by the High Court, leaving the lamp unlit on December 4 and prompting detentions of political leaders and activists.
- On Friday, the Supreme Court said it would consider listing the state’s Special Leave Petition against the High Court orders after an urgent mention by Tamil Nadu, as counsel for the devotees accused the government of staging theatrics.
- At the Madurai bench on Friday, Justice G R Swaminathan sought reports from the state and the CISF on the obstruction to compliance and adjourned contempt proceedings to December 9.
- Separately, the High Court set December 12 to hear consolidated appeals from all parties, including state authorities and the dargah administration, on the underlying order permitting lamp‑lighting at the Deepathoon.