Deepam Row: Supreme Court Upholds Curbs On Namaz, Backs Madras HC Order
Deepam Row: Supreme Court Upholds Curbs On Namaz, Backs Madras HC Order
M.U.H
09/02/202625
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Madras High Court’s ruling restricting the offering of namaz at the dargah located on Thirupparankundram Hills in Tamil Nadu, holding that Muslims cannot offer daily prayers at the site. The apex court described the High Court’s decision as a “balanced order".
The court also upheld the High Court’s direction permitting namaz only on Ramzan and Bakrid at the dargah, while affirming the ban on animal sacrifice within the premises. The ruling came on an appeal filed by a practising Muslim, Imam Hussain, challenging the Madras High Court’s judgment.
The case relates to the long-running Thirupparankundram Deepam row, which has seen disputes over religious practices at the hill, considered sacred by multiple communities. With the Supreme Court declining to interfere, the restrictions imposed by the Madras High Court will continue to remain in force.
A plea was filed in the Supreme Court, challenging a Madras High Court’s order which allowed the lighting of a lamp on the Thirupparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu subject to clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and police.
In his plea, the original petitioner, Rama Ravikumar, mentioned the high court’s directions as an “unlawful" dilution of binding civil court decrees recognising the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple’s ownership and control of the hill, and as an “impermissible judicial intrusion" into an essential religious practice.
Ravikumar contended that although the high court acknowledged the temple’s right to light Deepam at the ‘Deepathoon’ (stone pillar), it effectively rendered that right conditional by subjecting it to administrative discretion.
He further submitted that the high court has exceeded its jurisdiction by imposing fresh substantive restrictions despite the final decree conclusively recognising the temple’s proprietary rights over the hill.
He said that the practice of lighting the Deepam was the temple’s internal religious matter and cannot be made subject to statutory authorities in the absence of a clear legislative mandate.
The petitioner has also alleged hostile discrimination and said that while devotees of another faith are permitted access and usage rights up to the Nellithope area, Hindu worship at the hilltop has been subjected to layered administrative controls without authority of law.
