Collector apologizes in Karthikai Deepam dispute case (file photo)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. Ignoring the court order to light the Karthikai Deepam on the historic Tiruparankundram hill in Madurai has cost the district administration dearly. On Monday, District Collector Praveen Kumar filed an unconditional apology in the contempt case before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
In his reply affidavit, the District Collector said that there was no intention to violate or disrespect the court order.
In fact, the contempt petitions have been filed for non-compliance of an order passed by Justice GR Swaminathan on December 1, which directed that the Karthikai Deepam be lit not only at its traditional place, where it has been lit for over a century, but also on a hilltop pillar near a dargah.
According to a direction issued on December 3, the petitioner and ten others were allowed to go to the hill and light lamps under the protection of CISF. But the district administration imposed prohibitory orders. The next day the prohibitory order was revoked and the petitioner was permitted to light the lamp accompanied by the State Police.
However, this too was not allowed and the government said it would challenge the order.
This led petitioners Ramaravikumar and Arasapandi to file contempt petitions against Madurai District Collector Praveen Kumar, City Police Commissioner Loganathan, Deputy Commissioner Inigo Divyan, temple executive officer Yagya Narayanan and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Davidson Devasivatham.
In his affidavit, the District Collector said that there was no intention to violate or disrespect the court order. He said Section 144 was imposed purely in the interest of maintaining law and order, as intelligence was received that Hindu groups were planning protests and there was a real possibility of communal tension.
According to the administration, the protesters allegedly misbehaved with policemen and threw up barricades, prompting authorities to take action to prevent any untoward incident and ensure the safety of devotees and the general public.
Police told the court that hundreds of people had gathered at Thiruparankundram on December 3, of which around 1,000 to 1,500 attempted to climb the hill, making it extremely difficult to control the crowd. He reiterated that his aim was not to violate the judiciary but to stop the violence.
Condemnation of Collector's decision
During the hearing, Justice GR Swaminathan made sharp remarks questioning how the District Collector invoked Section 144 despite clear judicial direction. He said the police commissioner, the deputy commissioner and the temple executive officer could be pardoned, but expressed serious concern over the decision of the district collector and condemned the "audacity" of issuing prohibitory orders despite a court order.
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