Ujjain Orders Shopkeepers to Display Names and Mobile Numbers

The BJP-ruled Ujjain Municipal Corporation has mandated shop owners to display their names and mobile numbers. The directive, aimed at ensuring safety, imposes fines for non-compliance. Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal clarified the order's intentions and its foundation in existing regulations, amid criticism from opposition parties.

The BJP-ruled Ujjain Municipal Corporation has directed shop owners to display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments, echoing a similar order in UP for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route.

Non-compliant shopkeepers will face fines of Rs 2,000 for the first offence and Rs 5,000 for repeated violations, Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal stated on Saturday. The mayor emphasized that the measure aims to ensure safety and transparency, not to target Muslim shopkeepers.

Ujjain is famous for its Mahakal temple, drawing global devotees, especially during the Savaan month. The directive, rooted in the MP Shop Establishment Act, facilitates customer safety and redressal. The city's upcoming Simhastha (Kumbh) Mela in 2028 adds significance to this directive. Similar orders in UP and Uttarakhand have sparked criticism, with some alleging discrimination against Muslim traders.

(With inputs from agencies.)