Uttarakhand govt postpones Char Dham Yatra with immediate effect in compliance with High Court order

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday postponed the Char Dham Yatra with immediate effect till further orders, in compliance with the order of the Uttarakhand High Court in this regard. The state government also issued a revised SOP in this regard.

With this, the proposed Char Dham Yatra which was scheduled to begin from July 1 stands cancelled. Defying the Uttarakhand High Court`s order against holding Char Dham yatra this year, the state government had earlier issued a fresh set of COVID guidelines for the pilgrimage and said the first phase of the yatra will begin from July 1.

The state government further said that the second phase of Char Dham Yatra will commence from July 11.

As per the government, the COVID negative report was mandatory for those undertaking the yatra. It is to be noted that the state High Court had on Monday stayed the state Cabinet`s decision permitting Char Dham Yatra with a limited number of pilgrims and had also ordered live streaming of Char Dham shrines.

Despite Uttarakhand High Court's order against holding Char Dham Yatra this year, the state govt in a fresh set of COVID guidelines said the first phase of the yatra will begin from July 1, while the second phase will commence from July 11; COVID negative report to be mandatory https://t.co/Fm16PD3ssc — ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2021

The standard operating procedures (SOPs) were issued for the residents of Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. While it allowed the residents of Rudraprayag to visit the pilgrimage site -- Kedarnath, locals from Chamoli district were permitted to undertake yatra of Badrinath. 

The residents of Uttarkashi were allowed to visit Yamunotri and Gangotri in the first phase. In the second phase, all the residents of the state will be permitted to take part in the yatra, the notification said.

In view of COVID-19 and poor health preparedness, the decision of the government was put on hold by the High court. The court asked the government to file the affidavit again by July 7.

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 four pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri.