Uttarakhand High Court has lifted ban on the Char Dham Yatra and permitted the state government to conduct the annual pilgrimage following strict Covid-19 protocols. A division bench of Chief Justice R.S. Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma stated even though removing the ban that the pilgrimage would have specific restrictions.
Covid-19 suggestions
The Uttarakhand government has made it mandatory for devotees embarking on the yatra, which starts today, to either have a certificate for each vaccine doses or a unfavorable test report to get e-passes.
Pilgrims from Maharashtra, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh — the 3 states with higher active Covid-19 caseload — would have to furnish a unfavorable Covid-19 test report even if they are totally vaccinated.
All stakeholders and pilgrims have to behave in a Covid-acceptable manner, the Uttarakhand’s normal operating process stated. Pilgrims from outdoors the state would also have to register on Dehradun’ clever city portal.
The Char Dham Devasthanam Board will concern travel e-passes for the temples via its web page.
High Court’s SOPs
The higher court has capped the quantity of devotees going to the shrines every day at 1,000 for Badrinath, 800 for Kedarnath, 400 for Yamunotri, and 600 for Gangotri.
It has also made a unfavorable Covid-19 report mandatory for all devotees embarking on the yatra. The pilgrims would also require to furnish their vaccination certificates to travel to the temples.
Holy dips and baths in any of the springs surrounding the temples have also been banned. The higher court has also ordered the state government to deploy police personnel as per requirement in Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli districts.
The case prior to Uttarakhand HC
The Uttarakhand cabinet planned to conduct Char Dham Yatra in phases for out-of-state pilgrims based on the Covid-19 scenario.
However, on June 28, the higher court stayed the yatra, even though hearing a plethora of public interest litigations on the surge in Covid-19 instances and inadequate wellness infrastructure.
The Uttarakhand government moved the Supreme Court and filed a unique leave petition against the remain. However, the case was not heard. The state government not too long ago requested the higher court bench to vacate the ban. However, it refused to hear the plea as the matter was pending prior to the apex court. The higher court verdict came immediately after the state government withdrew the unique leave petition.
State’s arguments
Advocate General S.N. Babulkar and C.S. Rawat, Chief Standing Advocate, demanded lifting of the ban to restore the regional people’s livelihood.
Babulkar stated the yatra provided employment to folks and quite a few households would endure monetary losses if there was no pilgrim footfall throughout the season. He pleaded that the court’s initial concern even though imposing the ban had been addressed. He also stated there was substantial improvement in the state’s healthcare services.
The government also assured that it would frame strict Covid-19 suggestions and make certain adherence throughout the yatra.