The Supreme Court of India will hear a petition by the Civil Rights Protection Association challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's directive requiring eateries located on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and shops.

The Supreme Court of India will hear on Monday (July 22) a petition filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's directive to eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and shops. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti will consider the matter on Monday. The petition was first filed on July 20 at 6 am, seeking quashing of the order. The opposition also claims that the order promotes division and discrimination, especially against Muslim vendors.

The controversy over displaying the names of food vendors first started when the Muzaffarnagar police issued a directive asking eateries located on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and employees. The police described the decision as a measure to ensure law and order during the Kanwar Yatra.

The controversy over displaying the names of food vendors first started when the Muzaffarnagar police issued a directive asking eateries located on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and employees. The police described the decision as a measure to ensure law and order during the Kanwar Yatra.

“I don't support this at all”

It is worth noting that Union Food Processing and Industries Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday (July 19) joined the list of NDA allies, including JD(U) and RLD, who questioned the order.

Speaking to a news agency on the controversial issue, which has triggered sharp criticism and debate among political leaders and community members, Paswan, a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, said, “I will never support or encourage any division in the name of caste or religion.”

He said, “Whenever such division takes place in the name of caste or religion, I do not support or encourage it at all. I do not think any educated youth of my age, irrespective of caste or religion, is influenced by such things.”

TMC MP Mahua Moitra approached the Supreme Court

Meanwhile, it is important to note that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also moved the Supreme Court against the directive of the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that eateries located on the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners.

In his petition in the apex court, the TMC MP has sought a stay on the orders passed by both the state governments, saying that such instructions increase differences between communities. It is worth noting that the petition is yet to be listed for hearing.