Restoration of Punyam Poonkavanam project in Sabarimala temple runs the risk of violating Kerala High Court order

You don’t have any Active Subscription.

Your active subscription(s)

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Products you've access to

Additional Subscription Benefits

Need help with your subscription?

Devaswom Bench of Kerala HC had in February, 2025 asked Travancore Devaswom Board and Kerala Police to issue an advisory to Sabarimala pilgrims that the project is not part of Police Bandobast Scheme from Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival season of 2023-24 and that its name cannot be used for any activity connected with Sabarimala

Updated - July 28, 2026 05:27 pm IST - KOCHI

The Punyam Poonkavanam scheme implemented to keep the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pampa and its surroundings clean with the active participation of devotees had run into controversies with allegations of illegal funds collection and undertaking activities beyond the scope of the Kerala Police. (Photo for representation)

The Kerala government is learnt to be risking violation of a Kerala High Court order by permitting the restoration of the ‘Punyam Poonkavanam’ project in Sabarimala.

The State government, while exonerating P. Vijayan, the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), of all the allegations levelled against him regarding the controversial scheme on Friday (July 24, 2026), had permitted the continuation of the project since it was an “exemplary community initiative by the Kerala Police in Sabarimala.”

Incidentally, the Devaswom Bench of the court had in February, 2025, asked the Travancore Devaswom Board and also the Kerala Police to issue an advisory to Sabarimala pilgrims that the project was not part of the Police Bandobast Scheme from the Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival season of 2023-24 and that the name of the project cannot be used for any activity connected with Sabarimala.

It was after considering an inquiry report by M.R. Ajithkumar, the then Additional Director General of Police and Chief Police Coordinator, Sabarimala, that the order was issued.

Besides violating the court order, the official who issued the recent government order on restoring the project stood the risk of committing contempt of court, as the High Court order still holds good, pointed out judicial sources.

“If the State has found the report of Mr. Ajith Kumar baseless, the government shall initiate legal proceedings against him for filing a false report to the court, which is an offence under Section 212 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The offence attracts simple imprisonment up to six months or a fine up to ₹5,000,” judicial sources indicated.

Allegations of illegal funds collection

Incidentally, the scheme implemented to keep the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pampa and its surroundings clean with the active participation of devotees had run into controversies with allegations of illegal funds collection and undertaking activities beyond the scope of the State police.

The inquiry report, which was not available in the public domain so far, noted that the project “coordinators had solicited and collected money and other articles from private individuals and organisations.”

The “serving and retired police officers involved in the programme have travelled widely all over the country and are suspected to be in foreign countries also, which requires funding.” Neither the government nor the department was permitted to “collect any funds nor to extend the programme into other religious places, other States or foreign countries.”

The report stated that the Police department had no control over the programme that was run by private individuals of various States using the banner of the Kerala Police department. A specialised unit like the State Crime Branch shall inquire into it. The financial transactions carried out by Mr. Vijayan shall be probed by the Vigilance or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mr. Ajith Kumar recommended.

However, the government gave a clean chit to Mr. Vijayan and concluded that no material had emerged to indicate any misuse of authority, misconduct, or mala fide action on his part.

Meanwhile, K. Jayakumar, president of the Travancore Devaswom Board said the agency had issued an advisory as directed by the court and the programme was stopped since the court order.

Published - July 28, 2026 05:12 pm IST

Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.