The Supreme Court has temporarily halted a contentious order by the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that required eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners and staff. The Court emphasized that the police could not enforce this directive and could only request the display of food items. Opposition figures, including AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, criticized the order, comparing it to apartheid and the boycotting of Jewish businesses in Nazi Germany.
In its directive to pause the UP government order, the Court highlighted concerns about the implications of such directives and the threat of police action for non-compliance. The bench, comprising Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti, stated that compelling proprietors to display names and addresses of staff does not serve the intended objective and infringes on the secular character of India. They affirmed that authorities could ensure that Kanwariyas are served vegetarian food according to their preferences and maintain hygienic standards.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the petitioners, argued that the directive was an exclusionary move by identity, undermining the inclusive vision of the Indian Republic. He noted that many ‘pure vegetarian’ restaurants run by Hindus employ Muslims and questioned the logic of boycotting such places based on the identity of the staff.
The petitioners also raised concerns about the directive creating a divide and subjecting minorities to boycotts, pointing out the coercive nature of the order, backed by fines. They noted that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand’s Pushkar Singh Dhami had publicly supported the directive, resulting in the firing of employees from certain communities.
Previously, the UP police mandated food joints along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owner names to avoid confusion and potential law and order issues. This order was subsequently extended statewide. The opposition, along with BJP allies like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and union ministers Jayant Chaudhary and Chirag Paswan, have criticized the directive.
