Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday upheld its interim order blocking directives from certain state governments that required eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners outside their establishments. The court’s decision maintains the status quo, with the interim stay order continuing until further notice.
The controversy began after several state governments issued mandates for eateries to publicly display the names of their owners during the Kanwar Yatra, a religious pilgrimage. The Supreme Court clarified that while shop owners can voluntarily display their names, they cannot be compelled to do so. “Our order is clear. If someone wants to write their name outside their shop voluntarily, we have not prevented them. Our order was that no one can be forced to write their name,” the court stated.
The directives have sparked significant debate, with opposition parties condemning them as “communal and divisive.” Critics argue that the orders disproportionately target Muslim and Scheduled Caste communities by compelling them to disclose their identities. Conversely, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supports the directive, asserting that it is intended to maintain law and order and to respect the religious sentiments of Kanwar Yatra pilgrims.
The latest developments follow an affidavit filed by the Uttar Pradesh government, defending its directive. The state contends that the measure was designed to ensure the peaceful completion of the Kanwar Yatra and to promote transparency. The government argued that displaying shop owners’ names would help pilgrims make informed choices about the food they consume during the Yatra, preventing accidental violations of their religious beliefs. The affidavit emphasized that ensuring transparency was crucial given the large crowds participating in the pilgrimage.
This legal challenge centers on directives issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, which required shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names. Similar directives were reportedly implemented in other districts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The Supreme Court had initially placed an interim stay on these orders on July 22, and Friday’s decision continues to block their enforcement.
