Supreme Court Extends Stay on Mandating Shopkeeper Information Display During Kanwar Yatra

The Supreme Court has extended its stay on an order requiring the display of shop owners' names and contact details along the Kanwar Yatra route until August 5. Muslim shopkeepers expressed relief, citing concerns over communal harmony and business impacts, while some Hindu shopkeepers and participants saw no issue with the order.

Muslim shopkeepers expressed happiness after the Supreme Court extended its stay on an order requiring the display of shop owners' names and phone numbers along the Kanwar Yatra route until the next hearing on August 5. The shopkeepers believe the order would disturb communal harmony and harm their business.

The Supreme Court extended its interim direction on Friday, staying the directives from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, which mandated the display of owners' names and staff details in eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route. Sanwar, a fruit seller near Haridwar's Singh Dwar for 30 years, stated that most of his customers are Hindus and they have never had issues buying from him. He questioned the benefit of the government’s order and expressed his willingness to comply if mandated.

Rizwan Ahmed, a dhaba owner near Baharabad, argued that the order would lead to communal tensions. Following the court's stay, several Muslim shopkeepers removed their names from their establishments. In contrast, Hindu shopkeeper Salek Chand Saini saw no issue in displaying names, asserting that all shopkeepers should comply with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Rajkumar, a kanwariya, and another participant, Sachin Kamboj, supported displaying shop names for knowing where they are eating. The Kanwar Yatra runs from July 22 to August 6, during which devotees carry holy Ganga water for 'jalabhishek' of Shivlings.