Joshimath crisis: SC turns down pleas seeking to declare land sliding as national disaster

A bench of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud, while refusing to entertain the pleas said that the Uttarakhand High Court is already seized of the matter.

"The Uttarakhand High Court is already seized of the matter. You (petitioners) please approach the Uttarakhand High Court at first instance," the Supreme Court noted in its order and refused to entertain the petitions.

"The Uttarakhand High Court can suitably redress the grievances including of rehabilitation of the affected people, and other measures," the bench led by CJI Dr Chandrachud said.

"We don't want anyone to use these proceedings only for sound bytes for social media", the Supreme Court said, in its order.

The petitioners also sought to direct the National Disaster Management Authority to actively support the residents of Joshimath in this tough time.

The petition sought to provide immediate financial assistance and compensation to the people of Uttarakhand losing their houses and lands on account of land sliding, land sinking, subsidence and cracking of houses and properties.

The plea filed by Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati sought direction to declare the current incidents of land sliding, subsidence, land sinking, land burst and cracks in the land and properties as a national disaster and direct the National Disaster Management Authority to actively support the residents of Joshimath in this tough time.