Deepam Verdict News | ‘They’ll Ask Aadhaar for Lord Muruga Too’: Petitioner Hits Back at Critics

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has upheld a single-judge order permitting the Thiruparankundram temple administration to light the Karthigai Deepam on a pillar near the hilltop dargah, in addition to the traditional location where the ritual has been followed for over a century. The court has reiterated that neither the petitioner nor the general public will be allowed access to the hilltop during the ceremony. Speaking to NDTV, Rama Ravikumar, the petitioner whose plea led to the original order, responded sharply to criticism over the case, saying objections have reached a point where “they would ask for Aadhaar even for Lord Muruga.” He defended the verdict as being rooted in temple rights and constitutional freedoms, and rejected allegations of politicisation.