Kanwar Yatra cancelled in Uttar Pradesh after Supreme Court suo motu intervention
A decision has been taken to cancel Kanwar Yatra in the State of Uttar Pradesh this year in view of COVID-19 pandemic after the Supreme Court had urged the State on Friday to prioritise health of citizens over religious sentiments.
A source from UP Chief Minister's office confirmed this development to Bar & Bench late Saturday night.
The Supreme Court had on Friday said that it will not allow Uttar Pradesh to go ahead with the Yatra and stated that if UP does not cancel it, the Court will pass orders to that effect.
"State of Uttar Pradesh cannot go ahead with it. 100 percent," the Court had said.
Though the State of Uttarakhand had called off the yatra earlier, UP had initially decided to go ahead with the same due to which the Supreme Court initiated a suo motu case regarding the yatra.
"We are of prima facie view that it concerns all of us 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 be religious is subservient to this basic fundamental right," the Court had observed on Friday when the case was heard.
State of Uttar Pradesh had, however, told the top court that total ban on the yatra will be inappropriate.
But the apex court maintained that the State will have to rethink its decision.
The Court did not pass any directions on Friday but listed the matter for further consideration on Monday.
It allowed UP time till Monday to examine the issue and file an additional affidavit in this regard.
"We can give you one more opportunity to consider holding yatra physically at all. This or else we pass an order. We are all Indians and this suo motu has been taken up as Article 21 applies to all of us. Either you reconsider to have it at all or we deliver," Justice Rohinton Nariman had remarked.
