Supreme Court Stays Eateries' Nameplate Directive, Sparks Political Uproar

The Supreme Court issued an interim stay on directives from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ujjain requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display owners' details. Opposition claims the orders promote religious discrimination, while BJP defends them on law and order grounds. Politicians, activists, and NGOs have challenged the directives.

The Supreme Court has placed an interim stay on directives requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ujjain to display owners' names and other details. This action came after opposition parties and activists argued that the orders promote religious discrimination.

A bench composed of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued the stay and sent notices to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, seeking their responses to the legal challenges. The court suggested that eateries might still need to indicate whether they serve vegetarian or non-vegetarian food.

The move has sparked a political uproar, with even BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Dal joining calls for the directive's withdrawal. Opposition parties plan to raise the issue in Parliament, contending that the orders target Muslims and Scheduled Castes. Conversely, the BJP argues the measure aims to ensure law and order and respect religious sentiments of pilgrims.