Deepam row: TN Govt debunks claims of 'deepathoon', HC told it is 'Survey Pillar'

Chennai, Dec. 12 -- Debunking the claims of the stone pillar, abutting the dargah, atop the Thiruparankundram hillock, as a 'deepathoon' of the famed Murugan temple below, the Tamil Nadu Government on Friday told a Division Bench of Madras HighCourt that it was merely a survey pillar and there was no record of deepam being lit there.

Advancing arguments before the Madurai Bench, comprising Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan, Advocate GeneralPS Raman and senior counsel G Masilamani assailed the December 1 order of a Justice GR Subramanian, directing lighting of'Karthigai Deepam' at the stone pillar and made it clear that it was not a deepathoon, pillar to light deepam, but a survey stone.

As usual, this year too, deepam was lit at...