Indian SC stays UP govt order directing shop owners to display names outside shop during Kanwar Yatra
New Delhi: The Indian Supreme Court on Monday imposed an interim stay on Uttar Pradesh government’s directive ordering all shopkeepers and eatery owners to display their names and other details during Kanwar Yatra.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in an interim order, the top court has ruled that Uttar Pradesh police cannot compel shopkeepers to display their names. Instead, they can only require the display of food items.
“Do not force the owners of eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names outside shops,” the apex court said.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatt was hearing petitions filed against the said directive. One of these was filed by TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
The top court has also issued notice to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi seeking their response on a batch of petitions alleging that state government’s decisions are violative of constitutional provision and against secularism.
On July 20, the Uttar Pradesh government issued directives for food shops on the Kanwar route to display the owners’ names. The directive was attacked by opposition parties in the state which have cited discrimination on the basis of religion.
