Chennai, June 5:
The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with a Madras High Court order dismissing a plea seeking action against officials who denied permission to Hindu devotees to light a lamp on Thiruparankundram hill while allowing religious observances during Ramzan.
A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha, Aravind Kumar and Shree Chandrashekhar upheld the Madurai bench’s decision but reduced the cost imposed on the petitioner, Hindu Dharma Parishad, from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5,000.
“While we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order passed by the high court, we are of the opinion that the imposition of costs is on the excessive side,” the bench observed in its June 2 order, adding that the rest of the high court’s ruling would remain unchanged.
The Special Leave Petition was accordingly dismissed with this modification.
The Madras High Court had, on April 9, dismissed the plea which sought directions to the Centre and the Archaeological Survey of India to initiate action against Tamil Nadu officials. The petitioner had alleged that authorities prevented devotees from lighting the Karthigai Deepam atop Thiruparankundram hill, despite earlier court orders, while permitting Ramzan-related activities at the site.
The petition was filed by KK Ramesh, managing trustee of the Hindu Dharma Parishad in Madurai, who claimed discriminatory treatment by the district administration and police.
With the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, the high court’s findings on the matter now stand final, subject to the reduced penalty imposed on the petitioner.