Char Dham yatra: Uttarakhand government moves Supreme Court against High Court stay

"The state government has made full arrangements regarding the Char Dham Yatra, and no provision has been left,"state government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal insisted

File pic: Zee News

The Char Dham Yatra might still happen this year, if the apex court deems fit. Objecting to the Uttarakhand High Court's order that had stayed the Char Dham Yatra, the state government has now approached the Supreme Court, said state government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal. "The High Court may have banned the Char Dham Yatra but the government has approached the Supreme Court against it. Now only the Supreme Court will decide the matter," he said, adding, "The state government has made full arrangements regarding the Char Dham Yatra, and no provision has been left unattended." 

On June 28, the Uttarakhand High Court stayed the state Cabinet's decision permitting Char Dham Yatra with a limited number of pilgrims and also ordered live streaming of Char Dham shrines.

The High Court has asked the government to file the affidavit again by July 7. In view of COVID-19 and poor health preparedness, the decision of the government has been put on hold by High Court. Earlier on June 25, the State Cabinet decided to partially open the Char Dham yatra for locals in limited numbers from July 1. Initially, it was decided, the yatra would be opened for residents of Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag districts with a cap on the number of pilgrims to visit the temples daily.The state government had said that it would be issuing guidelines for the pilgrimage for people from three districts. Government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal informed the three districts from where pilgrims were allowed were Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag.The four pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri. 

(With ANI inputs)