Bengaluru, Dec. 5 -- The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Thursday dismissed Tamil Nadu's appeal challenging the December 1 order which permitted devotees to light the Karthigai Deepam lamp at the Deepathoon, an ancient stone pillar atop the Thirupparankundram hillock.

The division bench of justice G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan dismissed the appeal, saying, "This court finds that the order in contempt was not one altering the earlier order of the court. When the court found its earlier order was not complied with, the court directed the petitioners to light the lamp. The appeal, filed with an ulterior motive, is dismissed."

With regard to the ongoing contempt proceedings against the state and district authorities, the late...