BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Friday criticised the Tamil Nadu government over the Karthigai Deepam row and defying the high court ruling on the issue and alleged that it has adopted an “anti-Sanatan” stance. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Thakur said, “I want to raise a very important issue where one state in India has become a symbol of anti-Sanatan Dharma. Their ministers are making statements against Sanatan Dharma,” and added that the situation was such that the devotees had been compelled to seek judicial intervention to access the temple. The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had recently pulled up the state government and accused officials of ignoring its order on lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Madurai’s Thiruparankundram temple. The court maintained that its directions do not affect the rights of the adjacent dargah and upheld the petitioners’ right to perform the ritual at the designated Deepathoon site.&nbsp;He further alleged that devotees faced police action during the episode. “Hindus are lathi-charged... Why are Hindus stopped,” he asked the Tamil Nadu government over the treatment meted out to worshippers at the temple.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-brazen-attempt-to-browbeat-56-ex-judges-slam-opposition-move-to-impeach-justice-swaminathan-1765538768334">‘Brazen attempt to browbeat’: 56 ex-judges slam opposition move to impeach Justice Swaminathan</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Today in Zero Hour, I strongly raised the issue of anti-Sanatan Dharma statements in Tamil Nadu, insult of Lord Ram and the brutal lathi-charge on Hindus taking out a peaceful procession for Madurai Thiruparankundram Karthigai Deepam Insult to Sanatan Dharma will not be… <a href="https://t.co/IsOXvAAbw6">pic.twitter.com/IsOXvAAbw6</a>&mdash; Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) <a href="https://twitter.com/ianuragthakur/status/1999396749908275397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>TN govt declined to comply with Madras High Court order</h2>&nbsp;The Karthigai Deepam row escalated sharply after the Tamil Nadu government again declined to comply with a Madras High Court order permitting the lighting of the ceremonial lamp at the Deepathoon stone pillar atop Thiruparankundram hills. It was the second defiance, as a division bench rejected the state’s appeal against contempt proceedings initiated for non-compliance.&nbsp;Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran and several party workers were detained in Madurai during protests against the state government. Over 1,000 police personnel were deployed to stop petitioners and supporters from reaching the hilltop despite the court’s direction.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-remove-a-single-name-from-voter-list-face-dharna-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-warns-on-sir-1765448347692">‘Remove a single name from voter list, face dharna’: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warns on SIR</a><h2>High Court bench dismissed state govt’s appeal</h2>&nbsp;The bench of Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan dismissed the state government’s appeal, calling it an attempt to pre-empt contempt action. The bench also upheld single-judge Justice G R Swaminathan’s order allowing petitioners to light the lamp at Deepathoon under CISF protection. The single bench had initiated contempt proceedings after officials facilitated lighting the lamp at Uchi Pillaiyar Temple instead of at Deepathoon as directed on December 1.&nbsp;The High Court division bench observed that executive orders under Section 162 of the BNSS cannot override judicial directions and said the timing of the prohibitory orders is indicative of a “well-designed act” to avoid compliance.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-one-h-1b-worker-equals-10-illegal-aliens-send-indian-techies-back-says-us-pollster-slams-trump-admin-1765474555216">‘One H-1B worker equals 10 illegal aliens, send Indian techies back’, says US pollster, slams Trump admin</a>&nbsp;After the appeal’s dismissal, Justice Swaminathan resumed contempt hearings and set aside the prohibitory orders issued by the Madurai district administration. He again permitted the lighting of the lamp at the hilltop, this time under the protection of Madurai city police, and warned that “harsh consequences will ensue” if officials continued to ignore the order.&nbsp;However, officials again blocked access, citing public order concerns while the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing on its appeal against the High Court’s orders.

The court maintained that its directions on lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Madurai’s Thiruparankundram temple do not affect the rights of the adjacent dargah and upheld the petitioners’ right to perform the ritual at the designated Deepathoon site.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Friday criticised the Tamil Nadu government over the Karthigai Deepam row and defying the high court ruling on the issue and alleged that it has adopted an “anti-Sanatan” stance. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Thakur said, “I want to raise a very important issue where one state in India has become a symbol of anti-Sanatan Dharma. Their ministers are making statements against Sanatan Dharma,” and added that the situation was such that the devotees had been compelled to seek judicial intervention to access the temple. The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had recently pulled up the state government and accused officials of ignoring its order on lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Madurai’s Thiruparankundram temple. The court maintained that its directions do not affect the rights of the adjacent dargah and upheld the petitioners’ right to perform the ritual at the designated Deepathoon site. He further alleged that devotees faced police action during the episode. “Hindus are lathi-charged... Why are Hindus stopped,” he asked the Tamil Nadu government over the treatment meted out to worshippers at the temple. Also Read: ‘Brazen attempt to browbeat’: 56 ex-judges slam opposition move to impeach Justice Swaminathan

The court maintained that its directions on lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Madurai’s Thiruparankundram temple do not affect the rights of the adjacent dargah and upheld the petitioners’ right to perform the ritual at the designated Deepathoon site.

‘Anti-Sanatan’: BJP MP Anurag Thakur attacks Tamil Nadu govt over lathicharge on devotees amid Karthigai Deepam row

Fifty-six former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, have issued a statement criticising the move to impeach the Madras High Court’s Justice GR Swaminathan and expressed “serious exception” to the impeachment motion while calling it a “brazen attempt to browbeat judges”. The former judges came out in support of Justice GR Swaminathan, who ruled recently on the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case. The 56 judges, including retired Supreme Court judges and former Chief Justices of several High Courts, called the impeachment motion a “brazen attempt to browbeat judges who do not fall in line with ideological and political expectations of a particular section of society”. The judges warned, “If this is allowed to continue, it will cut at the very roots of our democracy and the independence of the judiciary.”&nbsp;“Even if the reasons mentioned by the signatory Member(s) of Parliament are taken at face value, they are wholly inadequate to justify resorting to such a rare, exceptional and serious constitutional measure as impeachment.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-remove-a-single-name-from-voter-list-face-dharna-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-warns-on-sir-1765448347692">‘Remove a single name from voter list, face dharna’: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warns on SIR</a>&nbsp;The judges also referenced the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.“It may be recalled that even during the dark period of the Emergency, the then-government adopted various mechanisms, including supersessions to penalise judges who refused to ‘toe the line’,” the judges said, pointing to three notable judgements, including the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case that established the ‘basic structure doctrine’ limiting Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution of India.These are “sobering reminders of how political overreach can damage judicial independence”.&nbsp;<h2>‘Approach is anti-democratic and anti-constitutional’</h2>&nbsp;The 56 former judges also criticised attempts to “defame” senior members when passing decisions not favourable to “certain political interests”, referencing three ex-Chief Justices of India—Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, and the current CJI, Surya Kant.&nbsp;“The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation. To wield the threat of removal as a means of compelling judges to conform to political expectations is to turn a constitutional safeguard into an instrument of intimidation. Such an approach is anti-democratic (and) anti-constitutional...”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-one-h-1b-worker-equals-10-illegal-aliens-send-indian-techies-back-says-us-pollster-slams-trump-admin-1765474555216">‘One H-1B worker equals 10 illegal aliens, send Indian techies back’, says US pollster, slams Trump admin</a>&nbsp;<h2>100 INDIA bloc MPs filed impeachment motion</h2>&nbsp;Earlier this week over 100 INDIA bloc MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, presented the motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.The move was strongly criticised by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of ‘appeasement’ politics. “This has never happened (since) independence that a judge is facing impeachment for a judgment. They brought this to appease their vote bank,” Shah said.&nbsp;<h2>The Madurai temple lamp row, and the high court verdict</h2>&nbsp;The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called ‘deepathon’, on a hill in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai. The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah.&nbsp;On December 1, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years.Justice Swaminathan reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-denies-anticipatory-bail-to-luthra-brothers-ahead-of-deportation-from-thailand-in-goa-club-fire-case-1765458823728">Court denies anticipatory bail to Luthra brothers ahead of deportation from Thailand in Goa club fire case</a>&nbsp;However, the DMK said that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away.The temple did not comply with the court’s order and on December 3, the day of the festival, the lamp was lit at the traditional spot on the lower pillar.An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered the lamp be lit on the upper pillar also, leading to unruly scenes as hundreds tried to march up the hill to light the lamp—backed by armed central security forces—prompting district officials to issue orders banning large gatherings.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tariff-war-widens-after-us-mexico-announces-up-to-50-tariffs-on-imports-from-india-other-asian-countries-1765454197194">Tariff war widens: After US, Mexico announces up to 50% tariffs on imports from India, other Asian countries</a><h2>Tamil Nadu govt moves Supreme Court&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;On December 4, appeals by the Tamil Nadu government were heard by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court. The court decided against the Tamil Nadu government. Subsequently, on December 5, the state moved the Supreme Court, which has not yet fixed a date for the hearing.The developments are being seen as a political setback for the ruling DMK, particularly ahead of the Assembly election next year, as it is already facing accusations of having an ‘anti-Hindu’ stance to appease Muslim voters.Chief Minister MK Stalin targeted the BJP without naming it and said the lighting of the lamp had been conducted in line with a century-long tradition. “... some parties have a riot mindset...,” he remarked.

The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation, the 56 former judges said in a statement, while calling the move a “brazen attempt to browbeat judges”.

Fifty-six former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, have issued a statement criticising the move to impeach the Madras High Court’s Justice GR Swaminathan and expressed “serious exception” to the impeachment motion while calling it a “brazen attempt to browbeat judges”. The former judges came out in support of Justice GR Swaminathan, who ruled recently on the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case. The 56 judges, including retired Supreme Court judges and former Chief Justices of several High Courts, called the impeachment motion a “brazen attempt to browbeat judges who do not fall in line with ideological and political expectations of a particular section of society”. The judges warned, “If this is allowed to continue, it will cut at the very roots of our democracy and the independence of the judiciary.” “Even if the reasons mentioned by the signatory Member(s) of Parliament are taken at face value, they are wholly inadequate to justify resorting to such a rare, exceptional and serious constitutional measure as impeachment.” Also Read: ‘Remove a single name from voter list, face dharna’: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warns on SIR The judges also referenced the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. “It may be recalled that even during the dark period of the Emergency, the then-government adopted various mechanisms, including supersessions to penalise judges who refused to ‘toe the line’,” the judges said, pointing to three notable judgements, including the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case that established the ‘basic structure doctrine’ limiting Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution of India. These are “sobering reminders of how political overreach can damage judicial independence”. ‘Approach is anti-democratic and anti-constitutional’ The 56 former judges also criticised attempts to “defame” senior members when passing decisions not favourable to “certain political interests”, referencing three ex-Chief Justices of India—Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, and the current CJI, Surya Kant. “The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation. To wield the threat of removal as a means of compelling judges to conform to political expectations is to turn a constitutional safeguard into an instrument of intimidation. Such an approach is anti-democratic (and) anti-constitutional...” Also Read: ‘One H-1B worker equals 10 illegal aliens, send Indian techies back’, says US pollster, slams Trump admin 100 INDIA bloc MPs filed impeachment motion Earlier this week over 100 INDIA bloc MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, presented the motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The move was strongly criticised by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of ‘appeasement’ politics. “This has never happened (since) independence that a judge is facing impeachment for a judgment. They brought this to appease their vote bank,” Shah said. The Madurai temple lamp row, and the high court verdict The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called ‘deepathon’, on a hill in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai. The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah. On December 1, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years. Justice Swaminathan reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession. Also Read: Court denies anticipatory bail to Luthra brothers ahead of deportation from Thailand in Goa club fire case However, the DMK said that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. The temple did not comply with the court’s order and on December 3, the day of the festival, the lamp was lit at the traditional spot on the lower pillar. An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered the lamp be lit on the upper pillar also, leading to unruly scenes as hundreds tried to march up the hill to light the lamp—backed by armed central security forces—prompting district officials to issue orders banning large gatherings. Also Read: Tariff war widens: After US, Mexico announces up to 50% tariffs on imports from India, other Asian countries Tamil Nadu govt moves Supreme Court On December 4, appeals by the Tamil Nadu government were heard by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court. The court decided against the Tamil Nadu government. Subsequently, on December 5, the state moved the Supreme Court, which has not yet fixed a date for the hearing. The developments are being seen as a political setback for the ruling DMK, particularly ahead of the Assembly election next year, as it is already facing accusations of having an ‘anti-Hindu’ stance to appease Muslim voters. Chief Minister MK Stalin targeted the BJP without naming it and said the lighting of the lamp had been conducted in line with a century-long tradition. “... some parties have a riot mindset...,” he remarked.

The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation, the 56 former judges said in a statement, while calling the move a “brazen attempt to browbeat judges”.&nbsp;

‘Brazen attempt to browbeat’: 56 ex-judges slam opposition move to impeach Justice Swaminathan

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‘Anti-Sanatan’: BJP MP Anurag Thakur attacks Tamil Nadu govt over lathicharge on devotees amid Karthigai Deepam row

‘Arm-twisting’: 56 ex-judges slam opposition move to impeach Justice Swaminathan