The tussle between devotees and police personnel deployed in Sabarimala has escalated to a different scale, as reports suggest that certain police officers will move the Supreme Court to apprise it of the ‘difficulties’ in implementing its verdict.

The decision by certain officers to take the legal route is touted to have the patronage of the department. Legal experts have, however, advised that the move by the entire department may backfire.

The Chief Minister’s Office also has sought a legal opinion in the matter. “As many as 32 writ petitions have been filed in the Kerala High Court against police trying to implement the Supreme Court order. The petitions are being dismissed, but should that trend of filing petitions be promoted? Who’ll approach the Supreme Court --- the officers or the department --- is a legal issue and is under discussion,” Indian Express reported.

However, recent observations the High Court of Kerala have made it difficult for the police to cut loose and implement the verdict with an iron fist. The court repeatedly slammed the police for its excesses against devotees and famously commented that,“Police should remain behind the barracks”. This has reportedly irked a few higher-ups in the police department who have now sought legal advice to move the Supreme Court.

Repeated arrests of devotees for chanting Ayyappa mantras and for violating curfew have drawn criticism from various corners.