The Supreme Court of India extended its interim stay on the directives issued by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments, which had initially required eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and staff. The stay will remain in effect until the next hearing scheduled for August 5.
The directive, which was intended to prevent “potential confusion” and ensure the peaceful progression of the yatra, was challenged in the apex court, leading to this interim decision. Additionally, the Supreme Court has asked the Madhya Pradesh government to respond to the matter, as the state also has significant involvement in the annual pilgrimage.
During the proceedings, Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S.V.N. Bhatti emphasized that their previous order from July 22 had adequately addressed the concerns raised, stating, “We have said what needed to be said in our July 22 order. Can’t force anyone to disclose names.” The court denied clarifying further on the order and allowed petitioners to respond to the states’ submissions by the next date.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Uttar Pradesh, defended the state’s directive as a legal necessity, citing the large influx of devotees during the holy month of Shravan, particularly on Mondays. However, he also highlighted that the Supreme Court’s interim order was issued ex-parte and called for an urgent hearing.
The Deputy Advocate General for Uttarakhand, Jatinder Kumar Sethi, clarified that their state had not issued any specific orders for the Kanwar Yatra but was simply enforcing existing regulations that mandate eateries to display registration certificates and identity cards during all festivals to mitigate any law and order issues.
The bench has instructed that any pre-existing regulations on eateries and shops must be enforced uniformly across these states and clarified that the stay pertains only to forced disclosures, not voluntary displays.
Counsel for Madhya Pradesh pointed out that no specific directives regarding name disclosures had been issued by the Ujjain municipal body, and that the court’s decision was influenced by an erroneous news report cited by the petitioners.
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As the matter stands, the Supreme Court has maintained its interim stay, calling for a balanced and transparent enforcement of relevant laws, with the upcoming hearing on August 5 poised to further address these concerns.
