NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said every person wishing to trek to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir must obtain a health certificate and issued a series of directions to improve the route and make provisions for healthcare and shelter for pilgrims.

Appalled by the death of hundreds of pilgrims because of lack of healthcare, pilgrim shelters and the treacherous condition of the mountain path leading to the shrine located at 3,880 metres above sea level, a bench of Justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar said the mandatory health certificate would be issued free of cost by pre-notified hospitals in each state.

Importantly, the court said, "At the holy cave, the existing grill should be replaced by 100% transparent fibre or any other material to ensure that darshan of the Shivlingam is not visually obstructed. In the alternative, the iron grills, as installed, can be permitted but the gaps between the parallel bars, which are perpendicular to the earth, should not be less than 12 inches, as they would help in giving a clear visual darshan of the Shivlingam and the Shiv parivar."

The bench asked each state to inform the J&K government by May 30 every year the number of doctors and medical specialists they would be sending for deployment on the two trekking routes leading to Amarnath shrine to provide emergency healthcare to pilgrims, who normally experience height related breathing problems. The largest health centres should be set up at the base camps, it said.

The court, which took up the matter suo motu after taking note of a TOI report in June on death of Amarnath pilgrims because of lack of healthcare and basic amenities, said Piramal Healthcare's offer to provide pre-fabricated tents or toilets for pilgrims would be considered sympathetically and objectively by the Shrine Board.

The bench found the trekking tracks to be too narrow for proper ingress and exit of pilgrims, which was worsened by the palki-bearers and mules which carry other devotees. It accepted the report of the Special High-Powered Committee and directed the state government to widen the trekking routes to at least 12 feet.

"There shall be provided separate one way passage for palkis and horses as one unit and pedestrians as the other, near to and at the passages leading to the holy shrine. Preferably on this passage, pre-fabricated walking path/matting should be provided," it said.

The court made the chief secretary and health secretary of the J&K government and the chief executive officer of the Shrine Board personally accountable for implementation of the judicial directions.

Writing the judgment for the bench, Justice Kumar said, "We express a pious hope that this judgment shall serve a larger public purpose. It will provide a fair opportunity to the pilgrims to complete their yatra to the holy cave with human dignity, safety to their lives and with basic amenities being provided to them."

dhananjay.mahapatra@timesgroup.com