SC puts interim stay on directive to shops along Kanwar Yatra route to display owner’s name

New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday put an interim stay on directives issued by the authorities of certain state governments that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route should display the names of the owners outside such shops.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued notice to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, where the Kanwar Yatra takes place.

The bench said state police cannot force shopkeepers to display their names and they can only be asked to display food items.

“Until the returnable date, having regard to the discussion, we deem it appropriate to pass an interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the above directives. In other words, the food sellers… hawkers, etc. may be required to display the kind of food they are serving to Kanwariyas but they must not be forced to disclose the names,” the bench said in it’s order.

It has posted the matter for hearing on July 26.

The top court was hearing 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.

The petitions were filed by Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand with activist Aakar Patel.

They have challenged the directives, saying it’s causing religious discrimination and questioned the source of the power of the authorities to issue such directions.

Last week, the Uttar Pradesh government asked the food and beverage shops along Kanwar Yatra routes to display the name and identity of the operator/owner of their establishments.

As the hearing started, the bench asked whether any formal order had been passed to enforce such a direction.

Senior advocate CU Singh, representing the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, said that while the authorities were claiming it was voluntarily done, the directive was being enforced.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing Mahua Moitra, Kanwar Yatras have been happening for decades and people of all religions including Muslims, Christians and Buddhists help them on their way.