'Can't force anyone,' says SC, extends stay on name display of eatery owners on Kanwar Yatra route

The Supreme Court on Friday extended its interim stay on the directives of the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments that the eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the owners and the staff’s name.

“We’ve said what was needed to be said in our July 22 order. Can’t force anyone to disclose names,” the apex court bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti said.

The court was hearing the petitions filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Professor Apoorvanand and columnist Aakar Patel against the directives of the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments.

The stay order will be in effect till August 5, the date when the court will next hear the matter.

“Eateries will not be forced to display owner or employee names, anyone voluntarily doing so can,” the court added.

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Earlier on Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government opposed petitions challenging its directive requiring eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names.

The Uttar Pradesh government, in its detailed submission to the apex court, has said the directive was issued to ensure a peaceful and orderly pilgrimage.

The state government further said that the directive was issued in response to complaints received from Kanwariyas regarding confusion caused by the names of the shops and eateries.

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The UP government said that the nameplate directive was issued in response to complaints from Kanwariyas  who reportedly expressed concerns about the food provided along the route.

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There were worries about whether the food was being prepared according to religious practices, added the report.

“The yatra is an arduous journey, where some Kanwariyas, i.e. the Dak Kanwariyas, do not even stop to rest once the Kanwar is on their shoulders. There are sacred features of the pilgrimage, such as the fact that the Kanwar, once filled with holy Gangajal, is not to be kept on the ground; nor under the shadow of the gular tree. It may also be noted that a Kanwaria embarks on the Yatra after years of preparation,” the UP government said in its statement.

Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, travel to fetch holy water from the River Ganga. Millions take part in it every year.

With updates from agenices