Supreme Court Stays State Directives Asking Shops On Kanwar Yatra Route To Mention Owner's Name

The Supreme Court on Monday issued an interim stay on directives requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. However, the court stipulated that eateries must continue to mention the nature of the food being served.

This decision came after a plea challenged the orders issued by several state governments that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners. The issue reached the apex court following a plea by an NGO – Association of Protection of Civil Rights – against the UP government order.

“It’s a worrying situation, the police authorities are taking it upon themselves to create a divide so that socially backward, minorities go into an economic divide,” senior advocate CU Singh said in the top court. Arguing for the petitioners, advocate Abhishek Singhvi said, “If I don’t put my name I’m excluded, if I put my name, I’m excluded.”

Extensive arrangements have been made across several states for the Kanwar Yatra that starts on Monday with the beginning of the Sawan month of the Hindu calendar during which lakhs of Shiva devotees carry the holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar to their homes while offering it at Shiva temples on their way.

UP Deputy CM On Police’s ‘Nameplate’ Order

On the Supreme Court’s verdict on ‘nameplates in Kanwar Yatra route’, BJP MP and former UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma said that the government accepts the apex court’s order but displaying nameplates was a normal practice.

“There is no objection to the Supreme Court judgement, whatever the apex Court rules, is accepted. But it is a normal practice, people should have no objection to presenting their identity,” he said.

“When we clear competitive exams and become an IAS officer, we mention IAS with our name, when we become a doctor we mention that with our name. Anyway, 40%-50% of the people mention their names in shops. I think people should not have objected to it. But we accept the decision of the Supreme Court. The priority of the Government is that the Kanwar Yatra goes well, miscreants do not harm its sanctity,” he added.

On Sunday, BJP’s ally RLD joined the chorus for its withdrawal and the opposition parties stated they will raise the issue in Parliament.

The opposition has alleged that the order on eateries is “communal and divisive” and intended to target Muslims and Scheduled Castes by forcing them to reveal their identity. But the BJP maintained that the step has been taken keeping in mind law and order issues and the religious sentiments of pilgrims.

At an all-party meeting on Sunday on the eve of the Parliament session, several opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, SP and AAP, criticised the order and made it clear that they would raise the issue in the two Houses. They demanded that the government should allow a discussion on it in Parliament.

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