NEW DELHI: While continuing its defiance of orders from Madras HC allowing lighting of the ‘ Karthigai Deepam ’ atop Thiruparankundram hills, Tamil Nadu’s DMK govt on Friday requested Supreme Court for an early hearing on its appeal but got no such assurance from CJI Surya Kant. When a counsel mentioned TN’s appeal before a bench of CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, referring it to as an issue of “lighting of a lamp on a hilltop” and urging for an urgent hearing, the CJI said he would consider its listing as soon as possible. The state govt defended its action of not complying with the HC orders allowing the traditional lighting of ‘deepam’ at the stone lamp pillar on the Thirupparankundram hillock near Madurai on the ground that legally it had exclusive rights over rituals and cus

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