Uttarakhand HC: Covid Cannot Be Reinvited By Permitting Large Gatherings At Religious Shrines

WHAT DID THE COURT SAY

• The Court said that there was a direct relation between the holding of the Kumbh Mela and the subsequent deaths.
• Hence the Court held that the pandemic should not be invited by allowing large gatherings to take place at religious shrines.
• The Division Bench was composed of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, who had decided the case.
• The Bench requested the Government to review its decision to assent to the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra on 1 July.

OTHER NOTABLE POINTS

• The Court said that since the Amarnath Yatra had been cancelled by the Jammu and Kashmir Administration, the Char Dham Yatra should also be postponed or cancelled.
• The Court was aware of the financial difficulties that would be caused to the residents of Char Dham.
• The Court stated that the Government was permitted to announce economic stimulus plans for the business and tourism sectors which depended on Char Dham pilgrims.
• It was also suggested that the Yatra be live streamed so as to not hurt the religious feelings of the devotees.

BACKGROUND

• The Delta Plus variant is likely to spread to other parts of the country, including Uttarakhand.
• India is likely to be hit by the third wave of the COVID 19 pandemic.
• 59% of the deaths that occured in the state in May were due to COVID which gives a clear link between holding the Kumbh Mela and rising cases.
• On 20th June 2021, many people had gathered at Har-ki-Pauri, Haridwar to take part in the Ganga Dussehra festivities.

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