The Supreme Court on Friday maintained its interim order staying the directives issued by authorities in certain State governments, which mandated that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route display the names of their owners outside their shops. The hearing on the matter was postponed, with the interim stay order remaining in effect. The top court clarified its stance, emphasising, "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 issue sparked a row after the directives were issued, with the Opposition alleging that the orders are "communal and divisive," claiming they target Muslims and Scheduled Castes by forcing them to reveal their identities. In contrast, the BJP defended the directive, stating that it was implemented to address law and order concerns and to respect the religious sentiments of the Kanwar Yatra pilgrims.
Supreme Court's reaction on UP govt's affidavit
The Supreme Court's latest directives come after Uttar Pradesh had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court opposing petitions challenging its directive regarding the display of the names of shop owners on the Kanwar route. In its affidavit, the UP government said that the directive was issued to ensure a peaceful completion of the Kanwar Yatra and to ensure greater transparency.
The government said that the idea behind the directive was transparency and informed choice of the consumer/Kanwaria regarding the food they eat during the period of the Yatra, keeping in mind their religious sentiments so that they don't, even accidentally, fall foul of their beliefs, the UP government said. "Such situations would obviously lead to flare-ups where lakhs and crores of people are walking barefoot carrying holy water," the affidavit of the UP government stated.
Interim stay on the matter
The affidavit was filed on a batch of petitions challenging the directive issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar, in Uttar Pradesh, to shop owners to display their names outside shops during the Kanwar Yatra season. The police had said that the decision was in the interest of law and order. The directive was reportedly enforced across many districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh also came up with similar directives. Earlier on July 22, the Supreme Court had put an interim stay on directives issued by authorities of State governments that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route should display the names of the owners outside such shops.
(With inputs from agencies)
