Tuesday, 29 June 2021 | PNS | Nainital
In what can be termed as a repeat embarrassment to the state government machinery for the second consecutive time, the Uttarakhand high court expressed dissatisfaction at the affidavit submitted by the government and ordered a stay on the decision taken by the cabinet to start the Char Dham Yatra from July 1 for residents of the districts in which the shrines are located. This decision was taken during hearing on PILs regarding the status of medical health services and against starting the Char Dham Yatra in the state. The high court division bench of chief justice RS Chauhan and justice Alok Kumar Verma directed the state government to submit a detailed affidavit in the court by July 7 while also asking it whether the live telecast of the Char Dham shrines is being done or not. The State government in its recent cabinet meeting had decided to allow start of the Char Dham Yatra from July 1 for residents of districts to the shrines located in the same districts. This would have been followed by start of Char Dham Yatra for all residents of the state in the second phase.
According to the case details, advocate Dushyant Mainyuli, activist Sacchidanand Dabral and others had filed PILs regarding health services in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Char Dham Yatra in the state. The court directions were issued while hearing on these petitions. The next date of hearing on this has been set on July 7.
It is pertinent to mention here that the state government is eager to start the Char Dham Yatra which it had postponed earlier in view of the Covid pandemic. The government is eager to start the pilgrimage mainly due to economic reasons- stating that multitudes in the tourism business depend on pilgrims for their livelihood. Those in the tourism business have also been demanding for months now that both pilgrimage and tourism be resumed on a regular basis without restrictions in the state.
