Madras High Court Deepam Order Cannot Alter Religious Custom, Says Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has told the Madras High Court that the December 1 order directing the lighting of a lamp atop the Thiruparankundram hills amounted to creating a “new religious tradition” without any legal or historical basis.

The State argued that for over a century, the Karthigai Deepam has been lit only at the Uchi Pillaiyar temple and that there was no evidence to support lighting it at a new location near the dargah.

It further submitted that writ jurisdiction under Article 226 cannot be used to invent religious customs and warned that changing long-standing practices could disturb public order.

The matter will be heard further on December 15.