UP Government Stands Firm on Shop Name Directives for Kanwar Yatra

The Uttar Pradesh government has defended its directive requiring shop owners to display their names during the Kanwar Yatra, stating the measure aims to ensure transparency and prevent potential religious tensions. The Supreme Court will continue hearing the case amid concerns of religious discrimination.

The Uttar Pradesh government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, opposing petitions challenging its directive for shop owners on the Kanwar route to display their names. The government argues that the directive is essential to ensure a peaceful completion of the Kanwar Yatra and to enhance transparency.

According to the affidavit, the requirement for shop owners to display their names is intended to inform consumers, particularly Kanwariyas, about the food they consume, thus respecting their religious sentiments. The government states that such transparency helps prevent misunderstandings that could lead to tensions during a period when millions participate in the Yatra.

The directive, issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police in Muzaffarnagar, had already been implemented in multiple districts across Uttar Pradesh, with Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand enforcing similar measures. However, the Supreme Court has put an interim stay on the directive and issued notices to the state governments involved.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti is set to resume the hearing of the case. The UP government maintains that transparency about the identities of shop owners and the types of food sold is neither discriminatory nor restrictive, emphasizing that no ban has been imposed on food businesses except for selling non-vegetarian food.

The state government stresses that the directive aims to avoid any potential confusion and prevent situations that could result in tensions among the Kanwariyas. Citing past incidents where misunderstandings about the type of food being sold led to disturbances, the government views the measure as a proactive step for maintaining order.

The directive is defended as being solely in the interest of a peaceful Kanwar Yatra, which sees participation from over 4 crore Kanwariyas annually. Petitions have been filed by various individuals and groups challenging the directive as religious discrimination and questioning the authority of the state to issue such orders.