New
Delhi:
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it has
decided to completely cancel the “Kanwar Yatra” this year, and all Kanwar
Sangh's have agreed to this in view of COVID-19.
The
stand of the UP government came two days after the Supreme Court gave an
ultimatum to it to “reconsider” its decision to allow “Kanwar Yatra” amid the
COVID-19 pandemic.
In
today's hearing, Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan appearing for Uttar Pradesh
told the Supreme Court that this is the second year that the yatra has been
cancelled due to the pandemic.
Vaidyanathan
added that if at the local level a devotee visits a local temple then it does
not mean “Yatra” at all and has to maintain the COVID protocols in place.
Delhi
and Uttarakhand have already cancelled the “Kanwar Yatra”.
The
Supreme Court on Friday gave the Uttar Pradesh's government till today's time
to cancel the annual pilgrimage over COVID-19 risks.
On
Friday, a bench headed by Justice Rohinton F Nariman gave an ultimatum to the
Uttar Pradesh government to either “reconsider” its decision or the court will
pass orders on Monday.
Justice
Rohinton Nariman on Friday added that the court is of the prima facie view that
the decision on “Kanwar yatra” concerned all of us and is at the heart of
Fundamental Right to Life. The health of the citizenry of India and the Right
to Life is paramount, all other sentiments whether being religious is
subservient to this basic Fundamental Right.
Justice
Nariman further said, “The State of UP cannot go ahead with this. 100 per cent”.
To which Vaidyanathan appearing for Uttar Pradesh told the Bench that
authorities would be apprised of the top court's views and we would apprise the
court as to whether there could be a reconsideration of holding a physical “Kanwar
Yatra” amid Covid 19.
During
the hearing on Friday, Vaidyanathan told the Supreme Court that the total ban
was not possible and they have had allowed the “Kanwar Yatra” in a symbolic
manner with a limited number of devotees under stringent conditions.
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