HC terms ADGP’s travel in tractor to Sabarimala Sannidhanam as unfortunate

The Kerala High Court has termed the act of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M.R. Ajith Kumar travelling in a tractor of the police from Pampa to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam last week as unfortunate.

R. Jayakrishnan, Sabarimala Special Commissioner, had informed the court that the officer had expressly violated the court directive not to allow persons to use tractors meant for transportation of goods to the Sannidhanam.

The officer and his security officer boarded the Kerala Police tractor, which was driven by Vivek, a driver of Thiruvalla police station, from Chelikuzhi Bhagom (first curve) on July 12 and proceeded up to Cherippukada Bhagom near the Sannidhanam and returned the next day in the same vehicle, according to the report.

The court noted that the officer walked along the route till the area covered by CCTV and the rest of the stretch by tractor. The restriction on the use of tractors on the corridor was imposed following reports that tractors were being driven in a rash and negligent manner along the crowded trekking path towards the temple, a Division Bench of Justices Anil K. Narendran and S. Muralee Krishna said while hearing a suo motu proceeding.

The senior government pleader submitted that the State Police Chief had sought an explanation from Mr. Ajith Kumar on the incident. The court granted the government time to file an affidavit and posted the case for August 4.

Meanwhile, the Pampa police registered a case against the driver on Wednesday for operating the vehicle recklessly and endangering public safety by transporting multiple individuals in a goods tractor. The FIR, however, did not mention the name of Mr. Ajith Kumar, sparking criticism and raising questions about accountability.