The Supreme Court on Monday imposed an interim stay on an order issued by the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments, directing eateries in the Kanwar route to display nameplates.
A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S.V.N. Bhatti heard a batch of pleas, including that of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, challenging the order and imposed an interim stay for implementing those directions. The bench also issued notices to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments and sought their response.
"We deem it appropriate to pass interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the above directives. In other words, food sellers may be required to display kind of food, but must not be forced to display names of owners, staff employed," the bench said, reported PTI.
In her plea, Moitra has sought a stay on the orders passed by the two state governments saying such directives aggravate discord between communities.
The Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments had issued orders, asking eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners.
Besides them, the BJP-ruled Ujjain Municipal Corporation had directed shop owners to display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments in the ancient city. “Violators will have to pay a Rs 2,000 fine for the first offence and Rs 5,000 if they defy this order for the second time,” Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal said on Saturday. “This order is aimed at ensuring safety and transparency and not intended to target Muslim shop-keepers,” the mayor added.
Extensive arrangements have been made across several states for the Kanwar Yatra that started on Monday with the beginning of the Sawan month of the Hindu calendar during which lakhs of Shiva devotees carry holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar to their homes while offering it at Shiva temples on their way.
The Uttar Pradesh government faced a huge backlash after it issued orders directing eateries in the Kanwar Yatra route to display nameplates.
-with inputs from agencies.
