Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 3 (HBTV): The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the authorities of the Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badusha Dargah at Thirupparankundram hill to conduct only the Santhanakoodu Urus festival, restricting the number of participants to 50.
During the hearing, the Tamil Nadu government submitted that permission would be granted only for the Santhanakoodu festival scheduled on January 6. It informed the court that similar permission had been granted in 2023 and that the same conditions would be followed this year.
The government further submitted that permission would not be granted for the Kandhoori Mahautsav. It said animal sacrifice, carrying meat or non-vegetarian food, and cooking non-vegetarian food would not be permitted during the festival. The court posted the matter to January 20 for the filing of a counter-affidavit.
Last month, a group of local residents staged a protest against the flag-hoisting ceremony for the Santhanakoodu festival at the Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badusha Auliya Dargah atop Thirupparankundram hill. The protesters demanded that, in accordance with an earlier court order, Karthigai Deepam be lit at the pillar near the dargah during the Tamil month of Karthigai.
The Thirumangalam Revenue Divisional Officer had granted permission for the flag-hoisting ceremony at the dargah. However, a previous Madras High Court direction to light the lamp at the hilltop sparked controversy, leading to a scuffle between two communities. The state government later challenged the order, citing law and order concerns.
Amid the controversy, a 40-year-old man died by self-immolation near a police booth in Madurai while protesting the non-lighting of the Karthigai Deepam atop Thirupparankundram hill despite the court order.
BJP leader K Annamalai condemned the DMK government, alleging an ‘anti-Hindu’ stance, and urged devotees to remain calm and trust the judiciary. In a post on X, he expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and said the refusal to allow the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam had led to the tragic incident.
Meanwhile, the DMK, along with other INDIA bloc allies, moved a motion in the Lok Sabha seeking the impeachment of Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench, who had passed the order to light the Karthigai Deepam. More than 100 INDIA bloc MPs submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing the judge of bias. (ANI)