Aishwarya Rathore-
After the Yogi Adityanath Government cancelled the Kanwar Yatra despite warnings of the pandemic’s third wave, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to take strict action against anyone breaking the Covid-19 guidelines or attempting to carry it out.
The Supreme Court has instructed Uttar Pradesh Authorities at all levels, including the police, to take immediate measures to stop any action that endangers residents’ lives.
The court took on record the Uttar Pradesh Government’s statement that it has decided to cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year and closed the case after it had taken it as a suo moto case against UP’s earlier decision to hold Kanwar Yatra amid COVID-19.
The court had said that it cannot permit the Uttar Pradesh Government to hold 100 per cent physical Kanwar Yatra in light of COVID-19″ and remarked that religious sentiments are subservient to the Right to Life.
A bench of Justices RF Nariman and BR Gava said, “The health of the citizenry of India and their right to life are paramount. All other sentiments, albeit religious, are subservient to this most basic fundamental right.”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who cancelled the Kanwar Yatra in the state, claimed that society must make its own religious decisions.
Yogi Adityanath stated, “The spirit of Kanwar associations should be respected.”
While the Uttarakhand government had cancelled the Yatra to avoid the Kanwariyas from congregating in Haridwar following the Kumbh Mela threat, the Delhi government did the same on Sunday in response to a Supreme Court ruling.
Rajasthan is another state that has cancelled the Kanwar Yatra this year due to concerns about Covid-19.
Read more: Uttar Pradesh Cancels Kanwar Yatra after Supreme Court gives Warning
