Joshimath Crisis: SC To Hear Today Plea Seeking Declaration Of National Disaster

The apex court, on January 10 had refused urgent hearing of the plea saying there are "democratically elected institutions" to deal with the situation and all important matters should not come to it

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear a plea on Monday seeking the court’s intervention to declare the Joshimath crisis in Uttarakhand as a national disaster, reported PTI. As per the cause list of January 16, uploaded on the apex court website, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narsimha and JB Pardiwala will hear the petition filed by Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati.

The apex court, on January 10 had refused an urgent hearing of the plea saying there are "democratically elected institutions" to deal with the situation and all important matters should not come to it. 

"Everything important need not come to us. There are democratically elected institutions to look into it. We will list it on January 16," the CJI had said, after the counsel appearing for the petitioner had mentioned the plea and sought its urgent listing.

It had listed Saraswati's plea for hearing on January 16.

According to the report, the petitioner had argued that the incident occurred due to large-scale industrialisation and also sought immediate financial assistance and compensation for the people of the state. 

The plea also sought direction from the National Disaster Management Authority to actively support the residents of Joshimath in these challenging times.

"No development is needed at the cost of human life and their ecosystem and if any such thing is to happen, then it is the duty of the State and Union government to stop the same immediately at war level," the plea by the Seer said.

Joshimath, with religious and tourism significance is a gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli. But, the town is sinking gradually with huge cracks developing in houses, on roads and fields. Many houses have tilted and are sinking, locals said.