Thiruvananthapuram: Senior IPS officer M R Ajith Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Battalion), has come under sharp criticism from the Kerala High Court for violating a standing judicial order by traveling on a police-owned tractor to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The High Court’s Devaswom Bench slammed the officer’s action, stating that the vehicle was meant strictly for transporting goods, not for ferrying individuals.
Ajith Kumar undertook the trip from Pamba to Sannidhanam and back on July 12 and 13, using the tractor to reach the hill shrine through the forest path—traditionally used by pilgrims on foot. The court was responding to a report filed by authorities that acknowledged the breach of a 2021 High Court order, which restricts the use of such vehicles to cargo only.
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Court Rebuke and Official Reaction
The bench, led by Justices Anil K. Narendran and S. Muraleekrishnan, stated that if the officer had health concerns, he should have used a medically designated vehicle such as an ambulance. The judges have now directed both the police department and the Travancore Devaswom Board to file a comprehensive report on the incident and the lapses in enforcement.
Meanwhile, Kerala Revenue Minister P. Rajan joined the chorus of disapproval, remarking, “Basic common sense cannot be taught to anyone,” in apparent reference to the IPS officer’s decision.
Controversial Officer Under Scrutiny
This is not the first time Ajith Kumar has found himself in the spotlight. He was previously embroiled in controversy over the disruption of the Thrissur Pooram festival in 2024 and also over an alleged private meeting with senior RSS leaders, sparking criticism from political quarters and civil society groups.
Adding to the controversy, the police have filed a case only against the tractor driver, alleging that he carried “three persons” in violation of the HC order. However, observers argue that this may be an attempt to shield the senior officer and make the driver—a fellow police personnel—a scapegoat.
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Political Overtones
Sources suggest that Ajith Kumar is closely aligned with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which has raised concerns about political protection and selective accountability within the state bureaucracy. Critics argue that such incidents undermine public faith in the principle of equality before the law, especially when junior staff are penalized for decisions taken at higher levels.
