Supreme Court seeks Centre’s response on plea for protocol to ensure safe conduct of Kanwar Yatra
The Supreme Court of India has requested the government's response to a petition seeking a national standard operating procedure for the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage. The plea aims to ensure better traffic management, crowd control, and access for emergency services during the annual event.
Why it matters
Establishing a formal protocol for large-scale religious gatherings is essential for public safety and the efficient management of state resources.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) sought the Union government’s response on a petition seeking the formulation of a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the annual Kanwar Yatra.
This year’s pilgrimage began on July 30 and is scheduled to conclude on August 11.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta agreed to hear the plea, which has sought a coordinated inter-State mechanism for traffic and crowd management to ensure the safe passage of pilgrims participating in the yatra.
“Issue notice, returnable on August 25, 2026,” the Bench said.
The petition has also sought directions to ensure that routes used during the pilgrimage have adequate access for ambulances, fire services, police vehicles, and other emergency responders.
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