New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took Suo motu cognizance of the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow the Kanwar Yatra amid the coronavirus pandemic and issued notice to the state government. A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman posted the matter for hearing on Friday.
A notice had also been issued to the Centre and the Uttarakhand government, which cancelled the yatra in its territories.
“We read something disturbing in The Indian Express today that Uttar Pradesh has chosen to continue with the Kanwar Yatra while Uttarakhand, with hindsight of experience, has said there will be no yatra,” a two-judge bench of Justices RF Nariman and BR Gavai said.
Yogi Adityanath, CM Uttar Pradesh 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-19. UP Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, informed that this year, the yatra will be held from July 25 to August 6.
A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday informed that only a few devotees would be allowed to participate in the pilgrimage. The official added that the government might make negative RT-PCR test reports mandatory for participation in the pilgrimage.