The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday stayed the state Cabinet’s decision allowing Char Dham Yatra for local pilgrims of three districts fr...
The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday stayed the state Cabinet’s decision allowing Char Dham Yatra for local pilgrims of three districts from July 1, Live Law reported.
On June 25, the Cabinet had decided to open the yatra for residents of Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi districts, where the Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are located.
A bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Verma said the Cabinet’s decision was arbitrary and unreasonable amid fears of an upcoming third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The judges also observed that the administration in Haridwar and Rishikesh had “singularly failed” to implement the guidelines during the Kumbh Mela held in April, leading to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
“There is, thus, a strong prima facie case in favor of the people, for not permitting the Char Dham Yatra, even in a limited manner,” the court said. “For, the lives of the people may be exposed to the danger of the Delta plus variant, and to the third wave of Covid-19. If the Char Dhar Yatra were permitted, we would again be inviting a catastrophe.”
The High Court referred to the second wave of the pandemic as a “tsunami”, with widespread shortages of oxygen and medicines.
“Suddenly our country was painted as a renegade, and as an irresponsible member of...
