IN RE : ALARMING NEWSPAPER REPORT REGARDING KANWAR YATRA IN STATE OF U.P Vs. IN RE : ALARMING NEWSPAPER REPORT REGARDING KANWAR YATRA IN STATE OF U.P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We were a little disturbed given today 's headline in the "Indian Express" of 14.07.2021 about the 'Kanwar Yatra ', which is likely to be held from 25.07.2021. This Court has taken Suo Moto cognizance of the newspaper report and thus issues notice to the Union of India and the States of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to file their early response. The Newspaper Report headline states as follows :-

(2.) The headline just above this headline speaks about the Prime Minister 's statement when he met the North-Eastern Chief Ministers that when people ask about the third wave of the Covid-19 virus striking the citizenry of India, it 's upto us to stop it and we cannot compromise "even a bit".

(3.) Given the disparate political voices, all speaking at the same time, it is important that the relevant Secretary, Union of India, respond to this news report. Given the fact that this Yatra is to take off from 25.07.2021, it is necessary to fix a short time period for this case. Affidavits will be filed by Friday morning, the 16th of July, 2021, responding to the aforedsaid news article by the relevant Secretary, Union of India; Principal Secretary to the State of Uttarakhand; and Principal Secretary to the State of Uttar Pradesh.