Thirupparankundram, a sacred hill in Madurai known for the Subramaniya Swamy Temple and Sikandar Badusha Dargah, has become the center of a fierce legal dispute. The Madras High Court ordered the temple management to light the Karthigai Deepam lamp on a stone pillar called the deepathoon atop the hill on December 3, 2025. The State government opposed this, citing potential law and order problems due to the dargah on the hill, and initially blocked permission. Justice G.R. Swaminathan ruled that the unoccupied parts of the hill belong to the temple, citing a 1920 Privy Council decree, and stressed the temple must assert its property rights by lighting the lamp. When authorities refused to arrange lighting, a contempt petition was filed, leading the court to allow petitioners to light the lamp with CISF protection. However, police stopped them citing prohibitory orders. The court condemned these actions and ordered compliance. On January 6, 2026, a Division Bench upheld the order, dismissing government fears as "imaginary ghosts" and warned the State against stoking unrest for political gains. Meanwhile, the court limited the dargah's Santhanakoodu Urus festival to 50 participants and banned animal sacrifices. Political tensions escalated when 107 MPs from the INDIA bloc sought impeachment of Justice Swaminathan, sparking criticism from legal experts. The dispute over the hill’s ownership and religious practices has spanned over a century, with courts emphasizing coexistence and the need to protect both religious traditions and property rights. The State government plans to appeal in the Supreme Court. The saga highlights the complex mix of faith, law, and politics on this historic hill.