Shivangi Prakash-
The Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh will not take place this year after the Kanwar Sangh called it off. This decision came out after consulting with the Uttar Pradesh Government.
This comes only one day after the Supreme Court stated unequivocally that the State of Uttar Pradesh cannot proceed with its decision to allow the Kanwar Yatra to take place in the State amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The State of Uttar Pradesh has been instructed to review its decision to allow physical yatras and report back to the Court on Monday, according to a bench led by justice RF Nariman.
“Either we will pass orders directly, or will give you one more opportunity to reconsider your decision“, Justice Nariman orally told Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan, who was appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh.
A panel of Justices RF Nariman and BR Gavai was hearing a Suo-moto case regarding the Uttar Pradesh Government’s decision to allow Kanwar Yatra during the COVID outbreak.
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In a Suo-moto lawsuit filed against the Uttar Pradesh Government’s decision to allow the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Supreme Court further stated that religious beliefs are subordinate to the fundamental right to life and health.
Following this exchange, the bench issued the following order:
“This Court pointed out given the Covid pandemic and the fear that looms over all the citizens of India of a third wave hitting us, whether the authorities would be in a position to reconsider the holding or allowing of physical yatra at all. We are of the prima facie view that it concerns all of us as citizens of India and is at the heart of the fundamental right to life. The health of citizenry of India and right to life is paramount, all other sentiments whether being religious is subservient to this basic fundamental right”.
The Court further noted that the Kanwar Yatra had been cancelled by the State of Uttarakhand.
The Supreme Court had taken Suo-moto notice of an article published in The Indian Express on Wednesday morning, which stated:
“Amid fears of a possible third wave of Covid-19, the Uttarakhand government has suspended the Kanwar yatra even as neighbouring Uttar Pradesh is pressing ahead with the annual ritual that sees a heavy movement of pilgrims across States in the northern belt”.