High Court Verdict on Karthigai Deepam at TN Hill

Paper: GS – I, Subject: Art and Culture, Topic: Festivals and Religion, Issue: High Court Verdict on Karthigai Deepam.

Context:

A Division Bench of the Madras High Court allowed the lighting of Karthigai Deepam at a stone pillar (Deepathoon) located near the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam on Thirupparankundram Hill, settling a long-standing dispute linked to the hill’s multi-religious past and contested access rights.

Key Takeaways:

History:

• 1923 Trial Court Judgment:
  • Temple property: Most unoccupied hill areas + pilgrim path.
  • Muslim property: Topmost peak, dargah area, Nellithope, and steps leading to the mosque.
  • This division became the basis for later conflicts.
• Pre-Independence & Early 20th Century:
  • Authorities stopped attempts to light ceremonial lamps near the summit citing:
    • No established custom
    • Law-and-order concerns.
• 1996 Madras HC Order:
  • Directed that Karthigai Deepam be lit at Uchipillaiyar Temple mandapam.
  • Allowed alternate sites only 15 metres away from the dargah, steps, and Nellithope.

About Uchi Pillaiyar Temple:

• The Uchi Pillaiyar Temple, also known as Rockfort Temple, is located at the top of Rockfort Hill, Trichy, in Tamil Nadu.
• It is a 7th-century-CE Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
• The temple stands 83 metres (272 ft) tall, perched atop a rock. 
• Trichy Rockfort hill is made of granite that is estimated to be over 3.8 billion years old. 
• It is one of the oldest rock formations in the world. 
• In comparison, the Himalayas are much younger they began forming only about 50 million years ago when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate.
• The smooth rock was first cut by the Pallavas, but it was the Nayaks of Madurai who completed the temples under the Vijayanagara empire. 
• There are three temples located closely on the rock fort:
• Maanikka Vinayakar Temple situated at the foothill, dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
• Uchchi Pillayar Temple at the top of the hill, dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
• Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated close to the base of the rockfort on the way to Uchchi
• This Rockfort Temple gives an aerial view of the entire Trichy City along with Srirangam Temple, River Kaveri, and River Kollidam.

Division Bench Ruling:

• State and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments challenged the single judge’s order.
• Court held the structure was a Deepathoon, not a survey marker.
• Law-and-order fears dismissed.
• Limited team allowed, no public access.
• Collector to coordinate under ASI conditions.

The Madras High Court ruling balances competing religious traditions at Thiruparankundram hill, addressing a contested sacred space while safeguarding public order and preserving the site’s historical and archaeological importance.

Source: (The Indian Express)

La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.

FOLLOW US ON:

◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam

◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS

◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/

GET IN TOUCH:

Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/

or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140

OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020

Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524,  Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081

Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040