Supreme Court Halts Controversial Kanwar Yatra Directive on Shop Names

NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Monday halted a controversial directive requiring shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names. The court has ordered these shops to instead only display the type of food they serve.

A bench led by Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued notices to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, which had implemented the “nameplate order.”

This move came in response to a petition filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR).

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the APCR, strongly criticized the directive. He called it “disguised” and lacking any legal basis. He argued that the order, which penalized non-compliant shopkeepers with fines, was not only economically harmful but also discriminatory.

“The directive goes against the very principles of inclusivity enshrined in our Constitution,” Singhvi emphasized. “It aims to exclude people based on their identity, which is incompatible with the vision of our republic.” He further noted the historical tradition of people from all faiths offering support to the Kanwar Yatra.

Another advocate for the APCR, CU Singh, pointed out the lack of legal backing and practical purpose for the order. “This directive is completely new and has no legal foundation. No law authorizes the Police Commissioner to enforce such measures,” he stated.

The controversy erupted last week when the Muzaffarnagar Police initially issued an order requiring eateries along the Yatra route to display owner names. The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government later expanded this order, and Uttarakhand followed suit.

The directive faced criticism not just from the opposition but also from some allies of the ruling NDA coalition, such as the JD(U) and RLD.

Critics labeled it “communal and divisive,” targeting Muslims and Scheduled Castes (SCs) by forcing them to reveal their identities.

In contrast, the BJP, governing Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, defended the move as a measure to maintain law and order and respect the religious sentiments of pilgrims.