UP Govt Informs Allahabad High Court About Its Preparedness To Hold Magh Mela Amid COVID Spread

The Uttar Pradesh Government on Tuesday informed the Allahabad High Court about its preparedness to hold Magh Mela amid COVID spread.

The UP Govt submitted its response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed before the Court seeking a direction to the state government to prevent devotees from bathing in/participating in the Mela on the auspicious dates i.e. Shahi Snan on account of COVID spread.

The Bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Piyush Agrawal was told that the UP government has already issued guidelines to be followed by the devotees who come to the Magh Mela.

It was also submitted that a separate Prayagraj Mela Authority has been set up to monitor all the arrangements and check the rush of people in one place.

Additional Advocate General, Manish Goyal further submitted that to advise people to take all precautions and not to create rush at Mela areas, they will issue public notices by different means of communication apprising the devotees and the prospective devotees about the restrictions and guidelines issued by the government for the purpose.

It may be noted that the PIL filed before the Court had averred that religious congregations in the past two years were responsible for spreading the deadly virus all over the country.

It was also submitted in the PIL that the Kumbh of Haridwar was held during the peak of the second wave of the Covid-19 and it had resulted in a huge number of Covid-19 infections and thus was voluntarily called off by the seers of various 'Akharas'.

In view of the submission of the UP Government, the petition was disposed of.

The 47-day annual religious fair 'Magh Mela-2022' started with thousands of pilgrims taking holy dip on the banks of the Sangam in Prayagraj on January 14 to mark the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Case title - Utkarsh Mishra v. State of U.P. and others
Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (AB) 25

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