The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday sought response of the State and other authorities while hearing the Letters Patent Appeals filed by the authorities with regard to the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam row.A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman extended the interim stay on the contempt of court cases related to the issue pending before the Single Bench of the court. The court posted the Letters Patent Appeals for hearing to June 22.Earlier, while hearing the contempt petitions, Justice G.R. Swaminathan had given a suggestion to the authorities that respect could be shown to the court’s earlier order allowing Karthigai Deepam to be lit on the deepathoon (stone pillar) atop the Thirupparankundram hill by permitting five persons named by the court to go to the lower peak where the pillar is located and offer symbolic prayers for 15 minutes. Published - June 04, 2026 09:39 pm IST