The Madras High Court has summoned two senior Tamil Nadu officials to explain why its directive allowing the lighting of the Karthigai deepam (lamp) on a deepathon (stone lamp pillar) atop the sacred Thiruparankundram hillock was violated.

According to the Bar and Bench, the court directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and the Additional Director General of Police, Chennai, to appear before it via video conference on December 17. Justice Swaminathan stated that his December 3 order allowing Hindu devotees to light the lamp at the deepathon was frequently breached, even after a Division Bench upheld the directive on December 4.

"I notice a definite pattern. I am certain that officials at the District Level would not dare to so brazenly defy the orders of this court. Let me remind the off

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