NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed Uttar Pradesh government’s directive ordering all shopkeepers and eatery owners to display their names and other details in areas where the Kanwar Yatra is organized.
In an interim order, the top court has ruled that Uttar Pradesh police cannot compel shopkeepers to display their names. Instead, they can only require the display of food items.
“Do not force the owners of eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names outside shops,” the apex court said.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatt was hearing petitions filed against the said directive. One of these was filed by TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
The top court has also issued notice to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi seeking their response on a batch of petitions alleging that state government’s decision are violative of constitutional provision and against secularism.
On July 20, the Uttar Pradesh government issued directives for food shops on the Kanwar route to display the owners’ names. The directive was attacked by opposition parties in the state which, have cited discrimination on the basis of religion.
The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the directive and has scheduled the next hearing for July 26.
“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 while posting the matter for further hearing on Friday.
In an interim order, the top court has ruled that Uttar Pradesh police cannot compel shopkeepers to display their names. Instead, they can only require the display of food items.
“Do not force the owners of eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names outside shops,” the apex court said.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatt was hearing petitions filed against the said directive. One of these was filed by TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
The top court has also issued notice to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi seeking their response on a batch of petitions alleging that state government’s decision are violative of constitutional provision and against secularism.
On July 20, the Uttar Pradesh government issued directives for food shops on the Kanwar route to display the owners’ names. The directive was attacked by opposition parties in the state which, have cited discrimination on the basis of religion.
The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the directive and has scheduled the next hearing for July 26.
“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 while posting the matter for further hearing on Friday.