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Kerala High Court Mandates Stringent Vetting for Police Appointments at Sabarimala

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court, in a significant order, has directed the State Police Chief to ensure that only officers with "integrity, and good service record" are appointed for duty at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam. The ruling emphasizes the need for due diligence and stringent verification to maintain high standards of administration at the sensitive pilgrimage site.

The Division Bench, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar , issued the directive while disposing of a suo motu case (SSCR NO. 34 OF 2025) that originated from concerns over a long-standing appointment at the Sannidhanam Police Control Room.

Background of the Case: Concerns Over Prolonged Tenure

The court initiated the proceedings after a report by the Special Commissioner highlighted that one officer, Sri. K.C. Anilkumar, had served as the Police Controller at Sannidhanam for an unprecedented twenty-two years.

The Bench expressed "serious apprehension" over this prolonged tenure, noting that such a situation could lead to "institutional entrenchment." The court observed that the continuance of the same officer in a critical position for over two decades could adversely affect transparency, administrative efficiency, and impartiality.

> "A post of this nature, particularly at the Sannidhanam, necessarily demands periodic rotation to eliminate the risk of the administration being influenced by extraneous considerations," the Court stated in its order.

Scrutiny of a New Appointment

Following the Court's observations, the long-serving officer was replaced. However, the newly appointed officer, Sri. Krishnakumar R., also came under judicial scrutiny. The Court directed the Chief Police Co-ordinator to submit a detailed report on the new officer's credentials, service record, and overall suitability for the post.

The subsequent affidavit filed by the police department revealed that Sri. Krishnakumar R. was an accused in a criminal case (Crime No. 001 of 2016) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is currently pending before the CBI Special Court. Furthermore, he was facing departmental proceedings related to the same incident, which had resulted in his demotion from Inspector to Sub-Inspector.

In response to these findings, the police authorities affirmed to the Court that the officer had been relieved from his duty at Sabarimala to ensure transparency and maintain public trust.

The Court's Final Decision and Directives

With the officer in question removed, the High Court considered the immediate issue resolved. However, the Bench used the opportunity to lay down a clear and binding directive for all future appointments at Sabarimala.

The court issued a final direction to the State Police Chief and the Chief Police Co-ordinator to exercise due diligence and conduct stringent verification before deploying any officer to the control rooms at Sannidhanam, Nilakkal, and Pamba.

> "The State Police Chief and the Chief Police Co-ordinator shall exercise due diligence, undertake stringent verification, and maintain the high standards of scrutiny before selecting and appointing officers for duty at Sannidhanam," the order concluded.

This judgment establishes a crucial precedent for administrative appointments in sensitive public-facing roles, underscoring the judiciary's commitment to ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in public service, particularly at a major pilgrimage center like Sabarimala.