HC bins plea on lighting lamp atop Thiruparankundram hill

Madurai: Madras high court on Thursday dismissed a plea seeking direction to the central govt and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to instruct the state govt to take action against officials who denied permission to Hindu devotees to light a lamp on Thiruparankundram hill, but granted permission for religious celebrations of Ramzan on the hill.The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by K K Ramesh, managing trustee of Hindu Dharma Parishad in Madurai. The petitioner stated that the Madurai district administration and police officials prevented the lighting of Karthigai Deepam atop Thiruparankundram hill by disregarding the earlier order passed by HC. However, the authorities granted permission for the Muslim community alone to offer prayers during Ramzan. This is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. Hence, the petitioner moved court.A division bench of justice N Sathish Kumar and justice M Jothiraman observed that the present petition is a publicity interest litigation, and dismissed it.