The Government of Uttar Pradesh shielded its directive after the Supreme Court held the Kanwar Route Order of displaying owner’s name of the eateries by tagging it “divisive”. The UP Government answered that it was meant to bring peace during religious yatras. Adityanath’s government said that this will bring “transparency”, will avoid “confusion” and foster a “peaceful yatra”
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Kanwar Route: The Government Defends Itself
Adityanath’s government said the State is obligated not to discriminate based on religion. Therefore, it pays special attention to the festivals of all communities, both majority and minority. For example, traffic restrictions are implemented statewide during the holy festivals of Muharram and Eid. Additionally, arrangements are made for village fairs for the sale and purchase of goats during that period. The movement of pigs is restricted to avoid offending the religious sensibilities of the minority community, who generally consider pigs unclean and do not consume pig meat.
The Government also said that such directives were brought in when the devotees of Kanwar allegedly complained to the state to let them have an “informed choice”.
Heated Arguments in Supreme Court
Mukul Rohatgi, the senior advocate, who appeared for the UP Government, told the bench that the regulations were being enacted under the Central Law Food and Safety Standards Act of 2006, which required every food seller including dhabas to display the names of the owners.
After hearing arguments from all sides, the Supreme Court extended its interim order, which stays the directives issued by certain state government authorities requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the owner’s name outside their shops.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti granted the Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments additional time to file their responses to the pleas.
