TN Deepam Verdict News | 'No Public Access Key Safeguard': Counsel On Thiruparankundram Verdict

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has upheld a single-judge order directing the Thiruparankundram temple administration to light the Karthigai Deepam on the stone pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hill, located next to the dargah, in addition to the traditional spot where the ritual has been performed for over a century. While affirming the lighting of the Deepam at the hilltop, the division bench has ruled that neither the petitioner nor members of the public will be allowed access to the site. The Archaeological Survey of India has been directed to impose strict safeguards to protect the monuments and structures on the hill. NDTV’s Sam Daniel spoke to Advocate T. Seeni Syed Amma, counsel for one of the devotees who had challenged the single-judge order, on the implications of the verdict, the restrictions imposed, and the way forward following the court’s directions.