Uttarakhand: Devasthanam Board Decides Against HC Order, Not To Livestream Rituals From Garbhagriha Of Char Dham Temples

The Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has decided not to live stream religious ceremonies performed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the four shrines.

The decision was taken after a directive from the Uttarakhand High Court to ensure that the ceremonies carried out within the sanctum sanctorum of the Char Dham temples be live-streamed for the people.

A government release on the meeting noted that the live streaming of only the outer premises of the shrines would be possible, reports The Indian Express.

"The opinion of all the board members, priests of shrines and other organisations have been received on the issue. The government will apprise the High Court about the opinion," Tourism Minister and vice-chairman of the board Satpal Maharaj said after the board's meeting held on Friday (17 July).

Days after the Uttarakhand High Court had put a stay on the Char Dham yatra and asked for the rituals to be live-streamed, Uttarakhand's Advocate General (AG) cited Char Dham priests to add that Hindu Shastras do not permit live streaming of rituals.

Taking exception to the submission by AG that 'Shastras' might not permit live streaming of the rituals in the holy Char Dham, the state's High Court on 8 July said that India is a democratic country ruled by the law and not by 'Shastras'.