Supreme Court justices on Monday turned down a bid to revisit Madras High Court’s directives on Thiruparankundram hill, calling them well-considered amid the Nallithoppu prayer imbroglio. Namaz permissions remain tethered to Ramadan and Bakrid alone.
The picturesque hill in Madurai hosts a prominent Murugan shrine and dargah, sparking clashes over usage. High Court interventions curbed routine prayers and banned sacrifices, irking petitioner M. Imam Hussain, who approached the top court via Prashant Bhushan.
Bhushan highlighted judicial precedents owning 33 cents to Muslims, decrying the order as discriminatory against routine religious observance.
The bench listened patiently before ruling the High Court order reasonably accommodates competing claims in this contested terrain. No further action needed, they declared.
Recalling context, a prior single-bench directive from early January forbade animal rites, non-veg offerings, and meat movement during festivals at the dargah—measures to preserve the site’s spiritual purity as per Hindu complaints.
The affirmation solidifies temporary peace arrangements, urging dialogue over litigation. As the order endures, it exemplifies judicial wisdom in multi-religious hotspots, possibly guiding resolutions elsewhere. Stakeholders ponder long-term solutions beyond courtroom battles.