Supreme Court Maintains Stay on Directives Impacting Kanwar Yatra Eateries

The Supreme Court extended its interim order suspending directives by BJP-led governments in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, mandating eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owners' names and other details. The court will review the matter on August 5, 2024, while responses from involved parties are awaited.

The Supreme Court on Friday extended its interim order suspending directives from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, which mandated eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owners' names and other details. The Kanwar Yatra, a significant pilgrimage event, began on July 22 and ends on August 6. The court will now review the matter on August 5, 2024.

A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti emphasized that the interim order preventing forced disclosure of owners' names would remain in effect. The bench has asked the Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments to file their responses to the petitions challenging their directives and has also allowed the petitioners to respond to the states' replies.

The court's decision comes amid concerns from various stakeholders, including senior advocates and government representatives, about the implications of enforcing such directives during the Kanwar Yatra. The case highlights the balance between religious practices and regulatory laws.