India, Aug. 3 -- The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine the correctness of Madras high court orders permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at a stone pillar near a dargah atop the Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai, while declining to suspend the operation of the judicial directions at this stage.

A bench of justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi issued notice on the Tamil Nadu government's appeal challenging the high court's December 2025 and January 2026 orders, directing the respondents to file their replies within six weeks. The state was granted two weeks thereafter to file a rejoinder.

The court, however, refused the state's request for an interim stay of the high court orders.

During the hearing, the bench a...