KOCHI: The High Court has ordered the suspension of the Punyam Poonkavanam project, which was being carried out by the police in Sabarimala. The High Court's action was based on the report submitted by ADGP MR Ajithkumar. The report states that widespread money collection is taking place in the country and abroad in the name of the project. A division bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice S. Muralikrishna directed that the activities related to the Punyam Poonkavanam project be stopped and action be taken against the culprits.

The Travancore Devaswom Board should give a wide publicity that the project has no connection with Sabarimala. It should also be ensured that no one is cheated. The ADGP's investigation report was submitted to the court in a sealed cover the other day. An investigation was conducted into the operation of the project and money collection.

Following the report of the Sabarimala Special Commissioner that money was being collected in the name of the project, the court, which took suo motu action, had directed the ADGP to conduct an investigation and submit a report in 2023. With this, the operation of the project was stopped. Currently, it is the Devaswom Board that is carrying out the cleaning work under the name of 'Pavithram Sabarimala'.

The Punyam Poonkavanam project was formed by the police in 2011 with the aim of keeping areas like Erumeli, Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilakkal, and Kananapatha clean. Along with the workers assigned for waste disposal, the project involved government employees, policemen, and Ayyappa Seva Sangham workers who came to work here and carried out the cleaning work in shifts. The workers of the Sabarimala Sanitation Society formed under the leadership of the Collector were also involved in this. It was the Sabarimala Special Commissioner who filed a report in the High Court regarding the collection of funds in the name of a project that was in good shape. The Kottayam District Police Chief brought the matter to the attention of the Special Commissioner.