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Justice G.R. Swaminathan connected Wednesday (March 18, 2026) adjourned till April 9 the proceeding connected contempt of tribunal cases initiated by him successful transportation with the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam row, pursuing an interim enactment granted by a Division Bench of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Justice Swaminathan said that since the period of Karthigai had elapsed, helium had suggested to the authorities that they could amusement symbolic respect to the court’s bid to airy a lamp astatine the recently identified Deepathoon (pillar), and inactive enactment retired their ineligible remedies. “This enactment was fixed to springiness a quietus,” helium said.
“It is applicable to enactment that successful contempt proceedings, the tribunal has a work to contented due directions for remedying oregon rectifying the things done successful usurpation of the court’s bid and, successful that regard, the tribunal whitethorn adjacent instrumentality restitutive measures astatine immoderate signifier of the proceedings. It was successful that tone a definite proposition was given,” the justice said.
He said the elder counsel appearing for the temple absorption took clip specifically for deliberating connected the court’s suggestion. “Since the petition for adjournment came from a highly respected elder counsel, and for the intent of considering the proposition fixed by the court, determination was nary crushed to cull the request. The adjournment was fixed successful the look of vehement absorption by elder counsel and different counsel appearing for the petitioners,” helium said.
However, Justice Swaminathan said, “Taking vantage of this model play of 2 weeks, Letter Patent Appeals person been filed. It is the close of the respondents (the authorities) to avail the judicial remedies unfastened to them successful law. But I cannot assistance feeling that I person been taken for a ride. If adjournment is sought to travel backmost to the tribunal with a response, and the petition is accepted by the court, fairness requires that the people of enactment undertaken is adopted. But astir apt each is just not lone successful emotion and war, but besides litigation.”
The justice said that connected a erstwhile occasion, helium had specifically directed that the constabulary officers (facing contempt) should beryllium present. “Neither Loganathan nor Inigo Divyan are contiguous successful person. One of them is connected grounds stating that helium volition look the consequences,” helium said.
He said the absorption fixed by the tribunal connected December 3, 2025, was enactment to situation by Madurai Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar and Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan. The LPA was dismissed by a Division Bench connected December 4, 2025.
“The Division Bench had held that it is for maine to trial whether the non-compliance of the absorption fixed connected December 3, 2025, was wilful oregon not. Therefore, the contempt proceedings insofar arsenic they pertain to the breach of the absorption connected December 3, 2025, volition person to spell on. Otherwise, I would beryllium failing successful my work by not complying with the absorption of the Division Bench. It is applicable to enactment that the bid dismissing the LPA is yet to beryllium challenged earlier the Supreme Court,” the justice said.
“So agelong arsenic the bid dated December 4, 2025, passed by the Division Bench successful the LPA is holding good, I volition person to proceed with the contempt proceedings. As already mentioned, contempt is not successful respect of 1 bid alone. Be that arsenic it may, successful arsenic overmuch arsenic the Division Bench is seized of the substance and interim enactment has been granted till April 8, the contiguous proceedings basal adjourned to April 9,” helium said.
