Uttarakhand: Govt postpones Char Dham Yatra until further orders

The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday had stayed for four weeks the state cabinet's decision allowing Char Dham Yatra for locals of three districts from July 1.

Complying with Uttarakhand High Court's order, the state government on Tuesday postponed the Char Dham Yatra hours after it had first announced to start it from July 1. According to the revised order, the state government postponed the decision with immediate effect until further orders. Despite the High Court's order against holding Char Dham Yatra this year, the state government had issued a fresh set of COVID-19 guidelines for the pilgrimage and had also said the second phase of the yatra would commence from July 11. As per the Covid-19 guidelines, a negative Covid-19 report was mandatory to visit the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines. The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday had stayed for four weeks the state cabinet's decision allowing Char Dham Yatra for locals of three districts from July 1.