New Delhi (TIP): The Supreme Court on Friday, July 16,  observed that “the Uttar Pradesh government cannot go ahead with the kanwar yatra – 100%”, asking the state to either withdraw the decision to allow the religious pilgrimage “in the interest of health of the citizenry of India”, or invite an order from the court. Citing widespread fears of a third wave of Covid-19, the bench of justices Rohinton F Nariman and BR Gavai gave the state government time till Monday to reconsider its decision of allowing the kanwar yatra due to “compelling religious reasons” and convey it to the court. The ultimatum effectively ends any chance of the yatra, which attracts around 30 million pilgrims from many northern and northwestern states to Haridwar in Uttarakhand, where they collect water from the Ganga (gangajal) and take it back home, on foot or on cycles. Many of the pilgrims are from Uttar Pradesh, which is keen to go ahead with the yatra despite fears that it could be a superspreader event, and despite warnings from public health officials. Uttarakhand has already cancelled the yatra and said it will not allow the entry of pilgrims. Uttar Pradesh was looking at ways to ship gangajal in tankers and then allow the pilgrims to collect it by walk or cycle. Both states go to polls early next year.

“The UP government can’t go ahead with it – 100%…Either we order directly or we give you one final opportunity to reconsider your decision. Pandemic affects all of us. We are all the citizens of India. This suo motu (case initiated by the court on its own motion) has been taken up since Article 21 (right to life) applies to all of us. It is to safeguard each one of us,” the bench told senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, who appeared for the UP government and agreed to return on Monday after a review of the decision. Vaidyanathan earlier informed the court that the state has decided to allow a symbolic yatra with a restricted number of kanwariyas (pilgrims) who will have to follow safety protocols. He said that the district administration will ensure that the number of permissions thus granted will be kept to a minimum. The UP government did not make any disclosure about a possible decision on Friday, but officials said they were in talks with kanwar associations, who may themselves call off the pilgrimage like last year.

“The UP government has instructed the administration to establish a dialogue with kanwar associations so the right decision can be taken regarding the organisation of the yatra,” said a government spokesperson. “We are in talks with the kanwar sanghs and other states,” added Awanish Kumar Awasthi, additional chief secretary (home), Uttar Pradesh.

For the Union government, solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted that movement of kanwariyas for bringing gangajal from Haridwar must not be allowed in view of the pandemic. The Centre’s affidavit advocated a system to make gangajal available through tankers at designated locations for devotees to collect and perform rituals. Advocate Abhishek Atrey, representing the Uttarakhand government, told the court that Uttarakhand has completely banned any physical form of yatra.

Source: HT