Kanwar Yatra 2024: SC To Hear Plea Against UP Govt’s Shop Nameplate Order On July 22

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a petition challenging the recent Uttar Pradesh government order mandating that shop owners display their names outside their establishments during the Kanwar Yatra.

The case is scheduled to be heard on July 22 by a bench consisting of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti, as reported by Bar and Bench.

The controversy began after the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), issued an order on July 19 requiring all restaurants along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. This directive, aimed at assisting pilgrims, was soon echoed by the Uttarakhand government, which also mandated nameplates for eateries in key pilgrimage areas including Haridwar, Rishikesh, Neelkanth, Gangotri, and Dehradun.

The move has sparked criticism from opposition parties and political leaders. The Congress party has condemned the order, labeling it an “assault on India’s culture” and accusing it of aiming to facilitate the economic boycott of Muslim-owned businesses.

TMC leader Saket Gokhale has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against a similar directive from Muzaffarnagar Police requiring eateries to display names and staff details.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has compared the directive to “apartheid” in South Africa and “Judenboycott” in Nazi Germany, arguing that the requirement is designed to prevent Hindu pilgrims from unintentionally buying from Muslim-owned shops.

In defense, the BJP has stated that the measure is intended to help fasting Hindus who may seek out vegetarian restaurants where the likelihood of ‘satvik’ food is higher.

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