Uttarakhand High Court okays Chardham Yatra, restricts pilgrim numbers

The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday lifted a stay on Chardham Yatra, but limited the number of pilgrims per day to 1,000 for Badrinath, 800 for Kedarnath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for Yamunotri.

The high court also directed the Uttarakhand government to ensure that the pilgrimage was conducted with strict adherence to Covid-19 norms.

A bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar of the high court directed the government to allow only fully vaccinated people or those carrying Covid-negative test reports. Police personnel should be deployed as per requirements in Chamoli, Rudraprauag and Uttarkashi districts.


The high court had stayed the pilgrimage in late June citing the risks involved amid the pandemic.

The state government approached the high court seeking to allow the pilgrimage, after withdrawing its special leave petition from the Supreme Court about a week ago.

Carrying a negative Covid test report and a vaccination certificate will also be mandatory for the visitors, the court said.

The court asked the government to ensure proper implementation of the Uttarakhand Anti-spitting and Anti-Littering Act during the Yatra. The court also asked the state government to keep ready helicopter services in case of emergency, he said.

The order came as a big relief to the ruling BJP in the election-bound state as it was under pressure to resume the Yatra. The Chardham Yatra is a major source of livelihood for the locals. The opposition Congress party had blamed the state government for not presenting its plea in the court properly to start the Yatra.