Justice S. Srimathy of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday, December 11, 2025, approved a petition allowing peaceful fasting at Thiruparankundram on December 13. Advocate R. Prabhu had sought permission to light a deepam near a dargah on the hill, with a peaceful hunger strike by the public. The judge allowed the event but limited participation to only 50 people. The State opposed the petition, saying the matter was still under appeal, but the court ruled that a hunger strike is a form of expression protected by the Constitution’s Fundamental Rights. The judge rejected the authorities’ concern that this could lead to other agitations, pointing out no applications for additional protests had been made. The court canceled the rejection order and set strict conditions: 50 persons only, no slogans allowed, only mantras may be spoken, and the entire process must be recorded on video. No provocative slogans or political coloring of the strike is permitted. Only one microphone will be used. Advocate Prabhu had given an undertaking that public peace would not be disturbed and police rules followed. Despite this, permission had been denied earlier. Now, the High Court has cleared the way for the peaceful fasting event to proceed on December 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.