SC declines to hear plea on Joshimath crisis

One-liner: The SC on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking the court’s intervention to declare the crisis in Uttarakhand’s subsidence-hit Joshimath a national disaster, saying since the state HC is seized of a broad range of issues it should hear it as a matter of principle.

For soundbites in social media: As the lawyer for the petitioner submitted that people in Joshimath are dying, the top court told him curtly,"You don’t want to use these proceedings for sound bytes in social media."

• A bench asked petitioner Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to approach the Uttarakhand HC with his petition

Request to HC: The specific aspects which have been highlighted in these proceedings can be addressed before the HC for suitable redressal. The HC is requested to consider the grievance, the bench said.

• The counsel for Uttarakhand govt submitted all the points raised by the petitioner have already been acted upon

People are dying: Senior advocate Sushil Kumar Jain, appearing for the petitioner, said people are dying and urgent steps are needed for relief and rehabilitation of those affected by ground subsidence.

On the edge of a precipice: The apex court asked the petitioner to approach the HC with his petition. Joshimath, the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli, appears on the edge of a precipice with gaping cracks appearing on buildings, roads and public facilities.

Uphill task: The state govt faces an uphill task providing relief and rehabilitating the affected families in brutal winter.

Due to large-scale industrialisation: The petitioner has contended subsidence in swathes of the town has occurred due to large-scale industrialisation and sought immediate financial assistance and compensation.

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