The Supreme Court will hear a plea today contesting the contentious orders from the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments mandating that restaurants along the Kanwar Yatra route should showcase the name of their owners.
The appeal against the UP government order filed by the non-governmental organisation Association of Protection of Civil Rights is expected to be heard by the panel consisting of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti. This hearing will decide whether the controversial order will be sustained or stayed, since petitioners say it violates the rights of Muslim shop owners and workers.
Two more petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court opposing the move in both states. While political analyst Apoorvanand and activist Aakar Patel petitioned the court to persuade the states to remove the directives, TMC MP Mahua Moitra accused the Uttar Pradesh government of “targeting Muslim-owned businesses”.
These orders from the UP and Uttarakhand Government have caused widespread criticism, with opposition parties promising to discuss it in The Parliament.
Leaders from parties including Congress, DMK, SP, and AAP criticised the decision as “communal and divisive.” in an all- party conference held on Sunday. They said that the policy was intended to marginalise Muslims and Scheduled Castes, and they want to discuss this issue in The Parliament.
The Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments have taken extreme measures to assure a peaceful yatra, which will take place from 22nd July to 19 August. Security precautions such as no-vehicle zones, barricades, CCTV, and drone surveillance have been put in place.
