Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Resources S. Regupathy announced on January 6, 2026, that the state government will appeal to the Supreme Court. This is to challenge the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench order about lighting a lamp at a stone pillar near a dargah on Thirupparankundram hill. Earlier that day, the Division Bench supported Justice G.R. Swaminathan's previous order. This order asked the Subramaniya Swamy Temple management to light the Karthigai Deepam at the 'deepathoon' (stone pillar) on the hill, along with the usual places. Mr. Regupathy told reporters at the Chennai Secretariat that the court's order was "against law." He said the court failed to check if there was any historical proof of lighting lamps on the 'deepathoon.' According to him, there is no evidence of such a practice in the last 100 years. He also claimed that forcing this practice through court order had a "hidden agenda." The Minister insisted the stone pillar on Thirupparankundram hill is not a 'deepathoon.' He stressed the need to preserve the culture and traditions of Tamil Nadu's people. He compared it to village cremation customs: "If there was a customary practice in villages of cremating bodies only at cremation grounds, they would be cremated only there and nowhere else. Similarly, long-standing customs should not be altered." Besides this, Mr. Regupathy rejected accusations made by AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami in a memorandum to Governor R.N. Ravi, which alleged scams involving DMK ministers.