Overview
- Justice G. R. Swaminathan warned he will frame contempt charges on February 2 unless the Madurai Collector, senior police officials, and the temple executive officer show cause for defying the December 1 order.
- The court flagged three alleged contempts: disobeying the initial order, issuing a BNSS Section 163 prohibitory order to thwart it, and continuing to block implementation after that order was quashed.
- The Collector and the Deputy Commissioner of Police told the court they acted on their own and not under dictation, as the Chief Secretary’s affidavit was taken on record for the next hearing.
- A division bench on January 6 upheld the directive to allow the Deepam, declared the Deepathoon area temple property, and asked the ASI to suggest safeguards for the protected monument.
- The temple’s executive officer said he will file a criminal trespass complaint over a dargah flag hoisted in the Deepathoon area without permission, while the state has filed appeals and is pursuing further remedies as political tensions rise with the Governor’s criticism and an impeachment move against the judge reported by MPs.