On Friday, July 26, the Uttar Pradesh government defended its directive requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and staff. The Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government stated that the purpose of this rule is to ensure peace during the religious yatra by promoting transparency, avoiding potential confusion, and ensuring a peaceful event.
Before the Supreme Court, which was hearing petitions challenging the Kanwar Yatra order, the UP government mentioned that similar arrangements are made during Muharram and Eid, where the movement of pigs is also restricted.
“The State is obliged not to discriminate on religious grounds. Therefore, special attention is given during festivals of all communities, both majority and minority. For example, traffic restrictions are imposed across the State during Muharram and Eid, and arrangements are made for village fairs for the sale and purchase of goats during that period,” the government explained.
“Even the movement of pigs is restricted, as it would offend the religious sensibilities of the minority community, which generally considers pigs unclean and does not consume pig meat,” the government added.
The government also informed the Supreme Court that the directive was implemented following complaints from Kanwariyas, intending to help them make informed choices.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, told the bench that regulations under the Central Law Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006, mandate that every food seller, including ‘dhabas’, must display the names of the owners.
After hearing arguments from all sides, the Supreme Court extended its interim order, staying directives issued by the authorities of certain state governments that required eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of the owners outside their shops. The bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti granted time to the Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments to file their responses to the pleas.
