Uttarakhand : Conditions of Chardham Yatra should not be like Kumbh: High Court

Nainital. The condition of Chardham Yatra should not be like Kumbh. SOP was issued a day before in Kumbh without knowing the reality of the ground. This spread Corona. This was stated by the Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday. The court also expressed displeasure over the attitude of the officers while hearing public interest litigations filed regarding the state’s poor health systems and Chardham Yatra. That said, the officials are taking decisions at the last minute without any preparations. Due to this the image of Uttarakhand is getting tarnished. The court has issued a new SOP of Chardham by June 21 and asked to submit a new affidavit with all the records.

A division bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Alok Verma heard the matter. In the hearing, Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar presented an affidavit regarding Chardham Yatra. The Bench was not satisfied with this. The government advocate argued before the court that the government is not starting the Chardham Yatra till June 22 in the Corona Curfew. Earlier, it was told on behalf of the petitioner’s advocate that last year three lakh 10 thousand 568 devotees had gone to the Chardham for darshan. The second wave of Kovid this year has been quite frightening. In such a situation, the government needs to take care of better health facilities, so that the corona does not spread again through pilgrimage.

The public prosecutor expressed his inability to issue a new SOP till June 21 and said that the Chief Minister and the officers are in Delhi during this period. On this the court said that it is even better. In Delhi itself, the CM and the officers should decide this by meeting over tea.
Court angry on demand for extension of travel date
The bench also expressed displeasure over the demand to extend the date in Chardham Yatra. The court said the hearing would be held on June 23. In this hearing, instructions have been given to the Chief Secretary, Health Secretary and Tourism Secretary to appear through video conferencing. On the absence of Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar on June 23 due to urgent work, the court said to send the Additional in its place.
Demand to ban 11 testing labs
The court was also informed by the petitioner that 11 private labs had made fake negative reports of one lakh people during the Kumbh Mela. This can be repeated by these laboratories in the Chardham Yatra, so in view of the danger, these testing laboratories should be completely banned.

The public prosecutor expressed his inability to issue a new SOP till June 21 and said that the Chief Minister and the officers are in Delhi during this period. On this the court said that it is even better. In Delhi itself, the CM and the officers should decide this by meeting over tea.

Court angry on demand for extension of travel date
The bench also expressed displeasure over the demand to extend the date in Chardham Yatra. The court said the hearing would be held on June 23. In this hearing, instructions have been given to the Chief Secretary, Health Secretary and Tourism Secretary to appear through video conferencing. On the absence of Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar on June 23 due to urgent work, the court said to send the Additional in its place.

Demand to ban 11 testing labs

The court was also informed by the petitioner that 11 private labs had made fake negative reports of one lakh people during the Kumbh Mela. It can also be repeated in Chardham Yatra by these laboratories, so in view of the danger, these testing laboratories should be completely banned.