The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government, the Union government, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and other concerned parties regarding a plea seeking the ASI's takeover of the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple at Thirupparankundram hill near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The petition was filed by Hindu Dharma Parishad, a Hindutva group.

The plea also seeks permission to light a lamp permanently, 24 hours a day, on a stone pillar (deepathoon) located on the hill, which houses both the Subramania Swamy temple and the Sikkandar Badhusha dargah. Additionally, the petitioners requested that the entire Thirupparankundram hill be illuminated with lamps during the Karthigai Deepam festival, which is held in November or December, and that devotees be permitted to offer prayers at the site on that day.

The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi issued the notices to the Union government, the ASI, the Tamil Nadu government, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, the Madurai district collector, the Madurai Police commissioner, and the executive officer of the temple.

During the hearing, Justice Kumar inquired whether the case was still pending before the Madras High Court. The counsel for the Tamil Nadu government stated that a division bench of the High Court had upheld a single judge's order on January 6, allowing the lighting of the lamp, and that the parties were considering filing a special leave petition challenging the decision. Justice Kumar responded, "Then we will take up all these together".

The controversy initially arose when temple devotees sought permission to light a lamp at the stone pillar. On December 1, a single judge bench of the Madras High Court, led by Justice GR Swaminathan, ruled that the pillar was a deepathoon, a structure meant for holding lamps, and directed the temple to restore the tradition of lighting the lamp at the site. The judge also held that the practice would not infringe upon any other groups.

The Hindu Dharma Parishad, in its petition, argued that there was evidence of conspiracies to occupy temples dating back to the Mughal era, citing instances such as the alleged conversion of the Ettukudi Murugan Temple into the Ervadi Dargah, and the burial of a Muslim body inside the Sri Rangapattinam Ranganathar Temple in Karnataka. The petitioner stated that the Tamil Nadu ruling party is supporting acts that incite religious unrest in Tamil Nadu and that the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department has not given due importance to Murugan's first base in Thiruparankundram, seeking an end to this conspiracy by the Tamil Nadu government.