DMK lawmakers are planning to move impeachment motion against Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan after his order sent Tamil Nadu into a major legal and political firestorm. This unprecedented step follows the judge’s controversial order directing that the Karthigai Deepam lamp be lit on the Deepathoon pillar at Thiruparankundram, a location situated close to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah and long considered sensitive. The state government refused to carry out the order citing law-and-order risks, even as pro-Hindu groups clashed with police when the temple did not light the lamp as mandated.
The DMK argues that Justice Swaminathan’s directive not only contradicts a 2017 Division Bench ruling but also has the potential to trigger communal tensions mere months before Assembly elections. The issue has since escalated into a national flashpoint, spilling into Parliament, prompting clashes on the ground, and now landing before the Supreme Court.
What began as a dispute over where a traditional lamp should be lit has spiralled into a confrontation involving judiciary, government, political parties, and religious groups.
WHAT WAS THE ORDER?
Justice GR Swaminathan had instructed the Subramaniya Swamy Temple officials to light the lamp on Deepathoon by 6 pm on December 4, after four petitioners sought the court’s permission to light up the lamp on the ancient stone.
Though the location was opposed owing to its proximity to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah and the fact that the Karthigai Deepam is usually lit on a Deepa Mandapam near the Uchipillaiyar temple on the hill, Justice GR Swaminathan rejected the objections.
He said while the rights of the dargah or the Muslims will not be affected in any way by lighting the lamp at Deepathoon, not doing so might jeopardise the rights of the Subramaniya Swamy temple over the unoccupied portions of the hill due to alleged attempts made by the mosque trustees to encroach them.
“Even if it is not a matter of custom, asserting the title of the temple over the lower peak by lighting at the Deepathoon is imperative. The 1923 judgment has clarified who owns what. But that did not deter the mosque trustees from disturbing the status quo. It is therefore necessary that the temple management remains vigilant throughout to foil any attempt to encroach on its property,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu government, however, refused to implement the order, citing law and order concerns.
WHAT DOES DMK SAY?
The DMK argued that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan’s order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.
On December 5, the issue rocked the Lok Sabha with DMK leader TR Baalu accusing the BJP of trying to “ignite” communal tensions in Tamil Nadu.
“Who should light the deepam on the hill? Whether the Hindu Religious Endowment Board representative or some miscreants who have got a judgement from a Madras High Court’s judge?” asked Baalu.
CLASHES AFTER ORDER
On December 4, several pro-Hindu groups clashed with the Tamil Nadu police over the Karthigai Deepam preparation at the lower peak of the hillock, known as Deepathoon. As per sources, the members of four Hindu groups, Hindu Makkal Katchi, Hindu Tamilar Katchi, Hanuman Senai, and Hindu Munnani, tried to climb the Thiruparankundram Hill to light up the lamps when they had a tussle with the local police.
Despite the court order, the temple authorities did not light the lamp by 6 pm, which triggered a major controversy. Several people, under the supervision of these four Hindu groups, gathered in front of the temple, and some of them tried climbing over the hillock, which resulted in a scuffle with the local police.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the state government challenging the High Court’s order permitting devotees of the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light traditional ‘Karthigai Deepam lamp’ at ‘Deepathoon’.
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