Overview
- On March 17, Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman granted an interim stay on the single-judge contempt cases and listed the appeals for April 8.
- On March 18, Justice G.R. Swaminathan adjourned the contempt hearing to April 9 and said he felt he had been “taken for a ride” after the State sought time then filed Letter Patent Appeals.
- The appeals were filed by District Collector K.J. Praveenkumar, Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan, and other officials against orders passed during the contempt proceedings.
- Before the stay, the single judge proposed a limited remedy by allowing five court-named individuals to offer 15 minutes of symbolic prayers at a lower peak near the Deepathoon.
- Background: the temple did not comply with a December 1, 2025 order to light the Karthigai Deepam, a Section 163 BNSS prohibitory order was quashed on December 4, and senior officials were impleaded and filed affidavits citing law-and-order concerns.