Right To Life Greater Than Religious Right: SC Asks UP Govt To Reconsider Kanwar Yatra Decision
The government will have to reply by Monday as to the date on which the matter will be heard again
Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision to allow inter-state Kanwar Yatra with a limited number of pilgrims and asked the government to impose a complete ban on the physical movement of Kanwariyas in the state.
The government will have to reply by Monday as to the date on which the matter will be heard again.
A bench headed by Justice RF Nariman, which took suo motu cognizance of the matter on the basis of “alarming newspaper report”, observed that the matter pertains to all and goes to the very heart of Article 21. “The health of citizens of India and right to life is paramount. All other sentiments — be in religious– are subservient to this basic fundamental right,” the bench noted.
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The bench also referred to the fear of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the Uttar Pradesh government defended the decision to organize Yatras for certain people, the bench said, “Either we can pass orders, or give you an opportunity to reconsider holding yatra physically at all.”
The Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that the yatra would be symbolic and would involve only a few people, while the Solicitor General said the state government could make arrangements to provide Gangajal for the devotees.
The Kanwar Yatra became a contentious issue this year after the Uttarakhand government cancelled the yatra in view of the possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the second year that the yatra remains suspended. However, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to go on with a symbolic procession of the pilgrims starting from July 25.
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