Madras High Court grants time to the authorities to submit the report on joint survey of Thirupparankundram hill

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday (July 3, 2026) granted time to the authorities to file the joint survey report on the  Thirupparankundram hill and said any expansion carried out after the 1931 Privy Council judgment should be mentioned in it.

The Tamil Nadu government informed a Division Bench of Justices G.R.  Swaminathan and S. Srimathy that there were some discrepancies and certain areas needed to be resurveyed. Hence, it sought time to file the report. The court directed the authorities to file the report by August 14.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by Hindu Dharma  Parishad, Madurai, seeking compliance with an earlier court direction. The court granted time to officials of the Revenue Department and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to submit the report on the joint survey of the Thirupparankundram hill.

Earlier, the court had asked the Madurai Collector to direct the revenue officials to cooperate with the ASI in conducting the joint survey that, it insisted, be concluded by May 2026.

Hindu Dharma Parishad had sought a direction to bring the entire hill under the control of the Central government and the ASI. In 2025, the court granted liberty to the Parishad to give a fresh representation to the Centre and the ASI, which were, in turn, directed to consider it and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible after affording due opportunity to all the parties.