<p>Thiruvananthapuram: A senior IPS officer in Kerala has courted controversy over travelling along the forest path to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on a tractor by violating a High Court order that tractors should be used only for transportation of goods. </p><p>While the Kerala High Court's Devaswom bench strongly criticised the IPS officer's action, the police registered a case against the driver of the tractor accusing him of carrying 'three persons' and thereby violating HC order.</p>.Travancore Devaswom Board begins distribution of gold lockets of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala.<p>Additional Director General of Police (Battalion) M R Ajith Kumar travelled in a tractor to Sabarimala from Pamba last week. He used the tractor to go to the hill shrine on July 12 and for return on July 13. After the matter became controversial the authorities filed a report at the Devaswom bench of the High Court citing the violation of HC order. </p><p>The court on Wednesday strongly criticised the IPS officer for violating the court order. The officer should have used an ambulance if he was unwell, the court said. The court also asked the police to file a detailed report on the reasons for the lapses.</p><p>Flaying the IPS officer's action, Kerala revenue minister P Rajan said that basic common sense cannot be taught to any one.</p>.Kerala government promotes controversial IPS officer Ajith Kumar to DGP rank.<p>Ajith Kumar was already caught up in a row over the disruption at the Thrissur Pooram festival in 2024 as well as over his meeting with top RSS leaders.</p><p>The tractor that the IPS officer used was learnt to be the one owned by the police and there are allegations that the tractor driver, who is a police personnel, could be made a scape goat. Ajith Kumar is said to be a close confidant of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: A senior IPS officer in Kerala has courted controversy over travelling along the forest path to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on a tractor by violating a High Court order that tractors should be used only for transportation of goods. </p><p>While the Kerala High Court's Devaswom bench strongly criticised the IPS officer's action, the police registered a case against the driver of the tractor accusing him of carrying 'three persons' and thereby violating HC order.</p>.Travancore Devaswom Board begins distribution of gold lockets of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala.<p>Additional Director General of Police (Battalion) M R Ajith Kumar travelled in a tractor to Sabarimala from Pamba last week. He used the tractor to go to the hill shrine on July 12 and for return on July 13. After the matter became controversial the authorities filed a report at the Devaswom bench of the High Court citing the violation of HC order. </p><p>The court on Wednesday strongly criticised the IPS officer for violating the court order. The officer should have used an ambulance if he was unwell, the court said. The court also asked the police to file a detailed report on the reasons for the lapses.</p><p>Flaying the IPS officer's action, Kerala revenue minister P Rajan said that basic common sense cannot be taught to any one.</p>.Kerala government promotes controversial IPS officer Ajith Kumar to DGP rank.<p>Ajith Kumar was already caught up in a row over the disruption at the Thrissur Pooram festival in 2024 as well as over his meeting with top RSS leaders.</p><p>The tractor that the IPS officer used was learnt to be the one owned by the police and there are allegations that the tractor driver, who is a police personnel, could be made a scape goat. Ajith Kumar is said to be a close confidant of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.</p>