Kanwar Yatra nameplate row: SC puts stay; issues notice to UP, Uttarakhand govts

New Delhi: The Supreme Court stayed the governments’ directive asking eateries on the Kanwariya Yatra route to put owners’ names and issued notices to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments on petitions challenging their directive asking eateries on Kanwariya Yatra route to put owners’ names. Supreme Court sought their response and posted the matter.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court stayed the governments’ directive asking eateries on the Kanwariya Yatra route to put owners’ names and issued notices to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments on petitions challenging their directive asking eateries on Kanwariya Yatra route to put owners’ names. Supreme Court sought their response and posted the matter for hearing on July 26. Supreme Court said that food sellers must not be forced to serve names of owners, or staff employed.

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the operation of controversial directives issued by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments requiring all eateries and dhabas along the Kanwar Yatra route to display names of owners and workers.

Issuing notice on petitions challenging the impugned directives, a Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti remarked that the devotees may be served with food of their choice maintaining standard hygiene.

As per the directives of the state governments, all the food outlets, eateries and food joints across the states will have to put up a “nameplate” displaying the names of owners/proprietors and staff members. This has been done to maintain the “purity of faith” for Hindu devotees who undertake the Kanwar Yatra in the month of Shravan. As per the order, those found selling products with Halal certification along the Yatra route will also face penal action.