SC to Hear Petition Against UP Govt Order to Display Names of Vendors During Kanwar Yatra

New Delhi- The Uttar Pradesh government's recent directive mandating shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names and mobile numbers has sparked a legal battle. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights, an NGO, has challenged this order in the Supreme Court, seeking its annulment.

According to a report published in News 18, the petition was filed online on Saturday, July 20, and was listed for hearing the same day by the Supreme Court's registry.

A bench led by Justices Rishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti is set to hear the case on Monday, July 22.

The contentious order, originally issued for the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar district, requires all hotels, dhabas, stalls, and restaurants to prominently display the names of their owners or employees. Following this, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to extend this directive statewide.

The order has faced criticism from major Muslim organizations, including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, and various political parties. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has condemned the directive as 'discriminatory and communal,' arguing that it infringes upon fundamental constitutional rights. The organization has indicated that its legal team will scrutinize the order’s legality.

In a counterpoint, prominent yoga guru Baba Ramdev has expressed support for the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand government's decision.

On Sunday, Ramdev defended the directive, stating, “If Ramdev has no problem in revealing his identity, then why should Rahman have a problem in revealing his identity?” He emphasized the importance of transparency and pride in one’s identity, asserting that “purity” in work transcends religious or communal identities. Ramdev added, “If our work is pure, it does not matter if we are Hindu, Muslim, or from any other community.”

The order issued on July 18 by the Muzaffarnagar district police requires all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners prominently. This measure aims to enhance coordination and accountability during the religious procession, which is set to begin on July 22. Preparations for the Yatra are underway, with new administrative guidelines in place.

In addition to the nameplate requirement, the order stipulates that liquor and meat shops along the route will be closed during the event. Authorities are also tasked with preventing stray animals from obstructing the pilgrims’ path. Enhanced surveillance will be employed through CCTV and drones to ensure the safety and security of the participants.

Former CM and BSP chief Mayawati strongly condemned the state government's directives. In a recent tweet, Mayawati said: The order issued by the UP and Uttarakhand governments to the traders on the Kanwar route to prominently display the full names of the owners and staff on their shops and to ban the sale of meat for electoral gains is completely unconstitutional. The attempt to economically boycott people of a particular religion in this manner is highly condemnable.