COVID-NEGATIVE REPORT MUST AT KUMBH: HC
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday directed the state government to ensure that pilgrims coming for the Mahakumbh, said to be the largest religious congregation in the world, in Haridwar have a negative Covid-19 test report taken 72 hours earlier or a vaccination certificate. Chief secretary Om Prakash gave an undertaking to the court that the condition of the mandatory negative Covid-19 test will be implemented in the event.
THE TEAM COMPRISED OF DISTRICT JUDGE HARIDWAR, MELA ADHIKARI, PETITIONER’S COUNSEL SHIV BHATT AND CHIEF STANDING COUNSEL.
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday directed the state government to ensure that pilgrims coming for Mahakumbh have negative RT-PCR test 72 hours before or a Covid vaccination certificate.
Chief secretary Om Prakash on Wednesday gave an undertaking to the court that the condition of the mandatory negative Covid test will be implemented in Mahakumbh. Om Prakash told reporters in Dehradun that in accordance with the court directions, pilgrims coming for Mahakumbh should have negative Covid test report or Covid vaccination report.
The development comes after the members of the court-appointed committee to check situation and arrangements in Mahakumbh submitted their reports to the court on Wednesday
Around 3 to 5 crore pilgrims are expected to visit Mahakumbh during April, in the shortened one-month Kumbh, for which notification is yet to be issued. Before the pandemic, over 12 crore were expected to visit four-month-long Mahakumbh. Mahakumbh has the potential to become superspreader, as Covid cases are witnessing a surge in nearly a dozen states, from where people are coming to Haridwar in substantial numbers. In the first Shahi Snan on March 11, over 3.3 million people visited Haridwar.
The HC gave directions while hearing a bunch of PILs. The PILs have been filed by Sachdanand Dabral, Dushyant Mainali, and Rajendra Arya related to various issues regarding the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic in the state.
On March 5, the HC had constituted a committee with the mandate to inspect the preparations and status of various arrangements and infrastructural works in Mahakumbh on March 14 and submit their reports by March 23 with photographic evidence.
The team comprised of district judge Haridwar, Mela Adhikari, petitioner’s counsel Shiv Bhatt and chief standing counsel.
Shiv Bhatt, counsel of petitioner Sachdanand Dabral, who is also member of the committee said in his report he apprised the court that many infrastructural works and arrangements are yet to be completed with photographic evidence.
“We also suggested the court that as many have completed the vaccination, such pilgrims should also be allowed to Mahakumbh if they submit a vaccination certificate for the same
The Centre had issued the SOP on Mahakumbh in January after the state government approached it for the same on the order of Uttarakhand HC during the hearing of a bunch of PILs on Mahakumbh amid Covid-19 pandemic.