Mussoorie, March 18 -- Ahead of the Char Dham Yatra, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has decided to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ban mobile phones, photography and videography within a specified radius of the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples to preserve the sanctity of the shrines. BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi, addressing a press conference in Dehradun on Tuesday, said the proposal to ban mobile phones and videography was adopted during the committee's budget meeting. He said a "no-phone zone" extending up to 50-60 metres around the temples is being considered, and pilgrims will be provided with locker and cloakroom facilities along pedestrian routes to deposit their devices before entering the sanctum for darshan. "The move was necessitated after it was observed that social media influencers often linger in temple premises to create reels and videos, causing inconvenience to devotees," Dwivedi said. In the same meeting held on March 10, the committee also passed a proposal to restrict entry of "non-Sanatanis" into the temples. The proposal has been forwarded to the state government for approval, BKTC officials said, adding that the intent behind the move is to maintain traditional protocols and ensure that the spiritual atmosphere of the shrines remains undisturbed. On the definition of "Sanatani", Dwivedi said the temples are open to all those who have genuine faith and devotion towards Lord Badrinath and Lord Kedarnath. "The intent is not to exclude true devotees but to preserve the sanctity of the teerth. Anyone who respects the traditions and values of Sanatan Dharma is welcome," he said. He added that the committee may introduce a formal declaration process for visitors who wish to express their adherence to these values. Dwivedi also referred to constitutional provisions under Article 25 for the ban on entry of "non-Sanatanis", stating that they provide a framework for managing religious affairs and maintaining the character of such historic places of worship. The Char Dham Yatra is set to begin with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri on April 19 (Akshaya Tritiya), followed by Kedarnath on April 22 and Badrinath on April 23. Officials said interest in the pilgrimage is high, with over 6.17 lakh devotees registering within two weeks. Of these, around 2.06 lakh registrations are for Kedarnath, 1.82 lakh for Badrinath, and over 1.1 lakh each for Gangotri and Yamunotri. On the recent controversy surrounding the "dharam-dand" (holy staff), Dwivedi said a high-level inquiry is underway into how the sacred object was taken out of the temple premises in violation of tradition. He further said the appointment of the Rawal (head priest) follows a strict legal and traditional process under the BKTC Act, 1939, and there is no provision for a serving Rawal to appoint a successor. The committee has also approved the creation of a 'Teerth Purohit Kalyan Kosh' (priest welfare fund) and is implementing a new transfer policy for employees, along with a comprehensive advertising policy. It is also upgrading its official website and online puja booking system to enhance services for devotees, he added....