Thiruparankundram Hill Verdict: A Compromised Approach to Religious Harmony.

No Animal Sacrife, No Sikandar Malai, But Illegal Sikandar Dargah Approved…

Thiruparankundram hill verdict: Here’s what the court ruled on Temple vs Dargah dispute in Tamil Nadu.

B Upendran | HENB | Chennai | Oct 10, 2025:: In a compromised verdict, Justice R. Vijayakumar of Madras High Court has delivered a final ruling on the contentious Thiruparankundram Hill dispute in Madurai, upholding the ban on animal sacrifices and permitting Muslim prayers in the Nellithope area.

This judgment brings closure to a long-standing and sensitive issue, maintaining religious harmony while setting clear boundaries for practices on the hill. The dispute involved petitions from Hindu devotees and Muslim communities regarding animal sacrifice, the hill’s naming, and prayer rights.

The Dispute

The ongoing dispute surrounding Thiruparankundram Hill in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, involves a complex legal battle concerning religious rights and practices. This hill is home to the revered Subramania Swamy Temple and the Sikandar Dargah, making it a site of significant religious importance for  Hindus and the Land Jihad rights of Muslims.

There were sufficient evidences that the Thiruparankundram Hill did not accomodate any Sikandar Dargah as such before 1858. And the Sikandar Dargah was made after occupying an ancient hill temple, very much illegally.

According to Sharia, building mosques or religious places on encroached or disputed lands is illegal. Moreover, the construction of mazars and dargahs is widely condemned as violating the Islamic principle of Tawhid (the oneness of God).

However, Muslims resort to such actions allegedly as part of a strategy to spread Islam through Land Jihad.

The Petitions

The case involved petitions from Hindu devotees and the Muslim community, with each side presenting their concerns and demands. Hindu petitioners, including Solai Kannan and Ramalingam, sought bans on animal sacrifice and Muslim prayers, alleging that the hill was being converted into “Sikandar Hill.” In contrast, petitions from the Muslim community, including the Senior Management Trustee of Sikandar Dargah, sought permission for maintenance work and basic facilities for devotees.

The controversy surrounding Thiruparankundram Hill began in February 2025, when a Hindutva group alleged that certain Muslim groups were attempting to rename the hill “Sikkandar Malai” after Sikhander Badshah, a 12th-century ascetic in whose memory the Sikkandar Badusha Dargah was built. This claim sparked tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities, with each side asserting their rights and traditions on the hill.

Reportedly, Ramanathapuram MP Nawaz Kani of Muslim League was seen consuming non-vegetarian biryani with others on Tiruparankundram hill to hurt Hindu sentiment. That also sparked the controversy.

But, after  reaching to the court of law, the division bench of Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Srimathy of Madras High Court  delivered a split verdict on the matter.

The Looming Legal Battle

Then, the case was referred to a third judge after a division bench of Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Srimathy delivered a split verdict on petitions related to animal sacrifice, usage of nomenclature, and rights of access and prayer in a disputed area near the hilltop dargah.

Key Issues

– Animal Sacrifice: Justice S. Srimathy ruled against the practice, citing a lack of evidence to prove it as an ancient religious tradition. In contrast, Justice J. Nisha Banu upheld the practice, emphasizing historical coexistence and communal harmony.
– Nomenclature: The judges unanimously rejected renaming the hill “Sikkandar Malai” or “Samanar Kundru,” directing that it retain its historical name.
– Prayer Rights: Justice Banu allowed Muslim prayers in the Nellithoppu area, citing established rights, while Justice Srimathy found no such rights existed.

Thiruparankundram Hill Verdict: A Balanced Approach to Religious Harmony?

In a significant ruling, Justice R. Vijayakumar, the third judge appointed to the case, has delivered a verdict that synthesizes elements from both previous judgments, bringing closure to the long-standing dispute over Thiruparankundram Hill in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

The Ruling

Justice Vijayakumar’s judgment upholds key aspects of the previous rulings, including:

– Ban on Animal Sacrifices: The court maintains the ban on the sacrifice of goats and chickens on the hill, as ordered by Justice S. Srimathi.
– Approach for Renaming: Any party seeking to rename the hill as ‘Sikkandar Malai’ must approach a civil court for appropriate relief, as directed by Justice S. Srimathi.
– Muslim Prayers Allowed: The court permits Muslims to continue offering prayers in the Nellithope area, as per Justice J. Nisha Banu’s order.

A Compromised Approach

This verdict reflects the court’s intention to maintain religious harmony while setting clear boundaries for religious practices on the shared hill. The ruling provides a judicial framework for the coexistence of both religious communities at the historic site in a compromised manner.

With this definitive ruling by the third judge, the long-running legal disputes over the Thiruparankundram Hill have been brought to a close, providing a judicial framework for the co-existence of both religious communities at the historic site.

While no animal sacrifice and no naming of Sikandar Malai was granted by the court, the illegally constructed Sikandar Dargah on a Hindu temple site has been allowed to exist further.
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