SC issues notice to UP government, Centre for allowing Kanwar Yatra from July 25
The court took suo motu cognizance after the Uttarakhand government cancelled the event on Tuesday.
FollowThe Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow Kanwar Yatra amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
A bench of Justices RF Nariman and BR Gavai issued notice to the Centre, the UP government and the Uttarakhand government. The bench will hear the matter on Friday.
The Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday allowed the yatra from July 25 despite concerns raised in various quarters over the risk posed by such events in triggering a possible third wave of Covid.
Meanwhile, the government of Uttarakhand on Tuesday called off the Kanwar Yatra, citing the risk of Covid-19.
"We decided to cancel the yatra, according topmost priority to human life in view of the threat of a possible third wave, the surfacing of the Delta Plus variant of the virus and its impact across the country and abroad," said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
"The decision was taken after a meeting with senior officials and considering all aspects into account including the opinion of medical experts," he added.
The pilgrimage is undertaken by devotees of Hindu deity Shiva. They collect water, usually from the river Ganga, and offer it at Shiva temples in their respective states. These devotees, called Kanwariyas, cover hundreds of kilometres on foot.
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