GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd July. The Supreme Court on Monday imposed an interim stay on directives from the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. The court ruled that shop owners need not display their names or identities and directed that they only display the type of food being served, whether ‘veg’ or ‘non-veg’.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S. V. N. Bhatti issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments, seeking their responses to the pleas challenging these directives. The Supreme Court clarified that while food sellers must indicate the type of food they serve, they should not be compelled to reveal the names of the owners or staff. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 26.
“We deem it appropriate to pass an interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the above directives,” the bench stated, adding that food sellers should only be required to display the type of food, not the identities of the owners or employees.
During the hearing, petitioners’ counsel expressed concerns that the directives could lead to economic boycotts and exacerbate community divisions. They argued that the enforcement of such directives could unfairly target minorities and lead to a form of economic discrimination. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing a petitioner, described the orders as “camouflaged” and argued that they could have severe economic consequences for small business owners, including vegetable and tea stall operators.
Senior advocate CU Singh highlighted that the directives could lead to significant economic hardship for poor vendors and warned of the potential for “bulldozer actions” against those who do not comply. He emphasized that the Kanwar Yatra has long been supported by people of various religions, and the directives could unjustly exclude individuals based on their religious affiliations.
The Supreme Court questioned whether the Kanwariyas, or devotees, expected food to be prepared by individuals of a specific category. The court was addressing pleas filed by the NGO Association of Protection of Civil Rights, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, and others challenging the state orders.
Moitra’s plea sought to stay the state directives, arguing that they could intensify communal discord. The Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments had initially issued orders mandating that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route display the names of their owners, purportedly to enhance safety and transparency.
In Ujjain, the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation also mandated that shop owners display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments, with fines of Rs 2,000 for first-time offenders and Rs 5,000 for repeat violations. Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal stated that this directive aimed to ensure safety and transparency, not target Muslim shopkeepers.
The Kanwar Yatra, which commenced with the start of the Sawan month, sees thousands of Shiva devotees carrying holy water from the Ganges to their homes, offering it at Shiva temples along their route. Extensive arrangements have been made across states for the Yatra, attracting pilgrims from around the world.
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