NEW DELHI, July 22 (ANI): The Indian Supreme Court today 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.
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.
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.
On the Supreme Court’s verdict, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said that the order by the UP government was “illegal and unconstitutional.” The Congress leader also emphasised that such measures are not supported by the Constitution.
Speaking with ANI, Khurshid said, “This order by the Uttar Pradesh government was illegal and unconstitutional. The Constitution does not allow this. I have been to so many programmes where Kanwars come and meet people. Those undertaking the ‘Kanwar Yatra’ are welcomed by people across castes and religions when they halt to take rest. They serve them, give them water to drink, give them food, make arrangements for their sleep.”
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.
Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav used a metaphor, saying that just like a diya flutters before it blows out, the diya of communal politics is now fluttering.
“I had said that the Supreme Court should take cognizance of this matter and stop such action. Just like a diya flutters before being blown out, the communal politics that has ended, its diya is now fluttering and so the hearing is being held. The government has taken many such steps because when communal politics ends, these people will do like this…,” Yadav said speaking to reporters on Monday.
“Communal politics is going to end. The Bharatiya Janata Party is saddened by it,” the Samajwadi Party Chief who is the MP of Kannauj added.
