MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras HC on Friday stayed an order passed by Justice GR Swaminathan on December 2, directing district authorities to permit Karthigai deepam celebrations on Mandu Karuppasamy temple in Dindigul, which had been closed a year ago due to disputes between Hindus and Christians in the locality.
A division bench of Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan passed the interim order on two separate appeals filed against the order by the district authorities and R Savarimuthu, a member of the local Christian community. The aforesaid temple, which is located on 12.5 cent poramboke land near a Kaliamman temple, was closed last year due to communal disputes. Nearly 21 FIRs, including a murder case, were pending in connection with the issue.
However, following a petition filed by V Sithan Balraj seeking to reopen the temple and permit Karthigai deepam celebrations, Justice GR Swaminathan had observed that mere registration of criminal cases alone cannot come in the way of courts from granting reliefs when rights are involved.
Judges order interim stay, case adjourned to January 19
Though a number of suits were pending between the two groups, it pertained to the processional rights of the Christian community and their right to halt their ‘chapparam’ in front of the Kaliamman temple, the judge had stated and directed the revenue and police authorities to permit the celebrations on December 3 and 4.
However, the said order was not implemented as the Dindigul Collector, citing law and order situation, passed a prohibitory order under Section 163 of BNSS the same day. A contempt petition is pending in this regard. When the appeals came up for hearing on Friday, the judges issued notice to the petitioner and authorities concerned and ordered an interim stay. The case was adjourned to January 19, 2026.