AJAY GAUTAM Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A question of great public importance has been raised in this Public Interest Litigation. The petitioner has highlighted, the untold miseries suffered by the persons who were trapped in Kedarnath valley in the month of June, 2013.

(2.) The northern State of Uttarakhand lies between 28.44" to 31.28" North latitude to 77.35" to 81.01" East longitude. The total area of this hilly State is 53.483 Square Km. constituting 1.63% of landmass of the India. The State comprises of 13 districts and 95 development blocks. This State has two divisions: western part is known as Garhwal and Eastern part is known as Kumaon. The State of Uttarakhand is also popularly known as Dev Bhumi. The Ganges and its several tributaries have developed one of the most fertile and prosperous plain of the World i.e. the North Indian Plain. The Garhwal region of Uttarakhand is the catchment area of Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Amongst all shrines of Uttarakhand, the Chardham (four holly shrines), Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are most popular.

(3.) H.G. Walton, ICS, in the "Gazetteer of Garhwal Himalaya" published in the year 1910 has described Kedarnath shrine as under:-