HC seeks records on Amarnath yatra

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 4. The Delhi High Court today sought records of the total number of pilgrims allowed to visit the Amarnath cave temple this year.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Mr. Justice Vijender Jain and Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to produce the records on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking setting aside of a government order for compulsory registration of pilgrims wishing to visit the holy shrine.

The Bench directed the Government to file an affidavit stating the official response to the petition by July 17.

Counsel for the Government submitted that this year about 1.05 lakh pilgrims as against 1.73 lakh last year were expected to visit the shrine.

The counsel said that registration had been made mandatory to ensure smooth travel of pilgrims. The registration system was introduced after about 250 people had died in rain and snow in 1996.

Challenging the restrictions put on the number of pilgrims allowed to visit the temple every year, counsel for Shri Amarnath Yatra Welfare Board, alleged that the State Government was not revealing the exact number of people who had registered their names for pilgrimage this year.

Unregistered pilgrims

PTI reports from Jammu:

Authorities in Jammu today allowed more than 1,000 unregistered people to join the third batch of pilgrims for Amarnath yatra from Jammu in view of the protests and demonstrations by agitated people here, officials said.

They said the decision was taken by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. Anil Goswami, following demonstrations and disruption of vehicular traffic on Tuesday by people who complained that they were not registered by the authorities earlier.

- PTI

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