SABLO moves SC, against public participation in Amarnath Yatra

HC asks govt to file report on arrangements today

JAMMU: As the Jammu and Kashmir government gives final touches to Shri Amarnath Yatra, to be conducted in restricted manner, a plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking restriction on the access of the general public and devotees for the annual pilgrimage due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and curtailing the same only to essential persons and trustees.
The petitioners have also sought direction to the Centre to provide ‘live darshan’ of the holy cave shrine through internet and television, which it said would enable the worship and darshan to reach several people while they remain safe in their houses.
The petition has been filed by Shri Amarnath Barfani Langar Organisation (SABLO), engaged in free of cost services to the pilgrims by providing them with meals, shelter, medical facilities, etc for several years.
“The cancellation of the Yatra in so far as participation of devotees/pilgrims is concerned, is imperative in light of the prevailing situation in the country and in view of the threat to public health,” the plea contended, adding that the prevailing situation in the country under the NDMA, 2005 makes it pertinent to restrict this year's yatra for public and for the enforcement of Articles 14 & 21 of the constitution.
"This year, owing to the outbreak of the pandemic, it is submitted that the entire pooja be restricted only to the essential persons/trustees, etc., and not be open to devotees and pilgrims... the present Petitioners only seek a restriction on the participation of the devotees/pilgrims, in light of the outbreak of the pandemic," the plea said.
The plea noted that while the dates of the Yatra have not been announced yet, some Bhandara Organisations have been permitted to start the service during the Yatra when it is announced, which may be of serious consequences for the public health at large.
“Annually, around 3 lakh devotees visit the Himalayan cave shrine, and if this is allowed, then it may lead to spread of the disease,” argued the plea which made Centre, UT administration and the SASB the respondents.
The petitioners have "suggested to the Shrine Board to have a Live Darshan of the Lord Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine, which will reach crores of people. This is more so when the entire country has been adopting an eplatform, including the courts. This will also enable the worship, pooja, and darshan to reach several people while they are in their houses".
Sounding the beguile for the commencement of Shri Amarnath Yatra later this month, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on last Sunday had attended the first 'Aarti' at the Amarnath Cave temple , even as special prayers held on the occasion of 'Ashad-Purnima' -- marking the traditional commencement of the annual pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas, which will be conducted via Baltal route only in view of the prevailing circumstances.
The 42-day yatra was scheduled to commence from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal on June 23 but was delayed due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
While the government has not yet announced formal dates for the commencement of the yatra, the government has said that the pilgrimage this year would have to be undertaken in a restricted manner and a maximum of 500 pilgrims only would be allowed per day by road from Jammu towards the cave shrine.
The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for testing of persons entering the Union Territory would also be applicable to the intending Amarnath pilgrims which means all yatris upon their entry will have to be sampled, tested and quarantined till they are reported to be negative.
The Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar here would be used as the base camp for the upcoming pilgrimage and is being prepared as the base camp with all necessary security arrangements, officials informed today.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the J&K high court today directed the government to file a detailed report on the arrangement being made for this year’s Yatra by Saturday.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul directed the AAG Aseem Sawhney to file the report positively on July 11, 2020.
On July 3, while hearing an application filed by Advocate Sachin Sharma seeking direction to UT government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and all other relevant agencies not to commence Shri Amarnath Yatra-2020 without satisfying this Court on all counts of preparedness, the court had asked the government to place the proposal and decision of the Government with regard to the Yatra and also the number of daily visitors and the manner in which the COVID-19 precautions shall be ensured and, in case the Yatra is being permitted, the manner in which it would ensure the issues relating to the COVID-19 infections.
Today, when the matter was taken-up for hearing, AAG Sawhney submitted that he is in the process of compiling the reports received from eight districts who are involved in Yatra and prays for short adjournment to file his report on record.