The Uttar Pradesh government has defended its guidelines for maintaining public safety and order during the Kanwar Yatra, stressing the importance of openness and giving participants the information they need to make an educated decision. The state government provided a thorough response to the Supreme Court on Thursday, stating that the purpose of requiring stores and restaurants to post their names, addresses, and staff names is to keep the peace and ease any possible tensions between neighbours during the major religious celebration.
The directives were introduced following complaints from Kanwarias, the devotees who participate in the Yatra, concerning the need for clear identification of food sources in line with their religious sentiments. The state government stated that these measures would enhance the safety and orderliness of the Yatra, considering the significant number of participants and the sensitive nature of the event.
On July 22, the Supreme Court issued an interim order staying the directives from the UP, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments, which mandated eateries along the Kanwariya Yatra route to display the names, addresses, and mobile numbers of their owners and staff. The court’s bench, comprising Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice S V N Bhatti, intervened after hearing petitions from the NGO Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), All India Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, and Prof. Apoorvanand.
The petitioners contested the orders, claiming that they were novel and had not been followed in earlier years. Additionally, many voiced worries that rather than easing communal tensions, these actions would make things worse. In its temporary ruling, the Supreme Court barred the implementation of these guidelines, permitting food vendors to specify the kind of food they offer without having to reveal personal information.
The UP government’s response reiterated the importance of these directives in maintaining the sanctity and peaceful nature of the Kanwar Yatra. But the state administration reconsidered the order on Thursday in response to criticism from several sources and decided not to require the restaurant owners to reveal their identities.
The Hindu month of Shravan begins on July 22. From then until August 2, the Kanwar Yatra will take place. On Friday, the Supreme Court will hear more arguments on this case, which will determine the fate of the controversial orders and how they affect the Yatra and ethnic peace.
The Congress party has applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the instructions, seeing it as a way to help food vendors and avert needless strife in the community. Several interested parties, including the Yatra participants, state officials, and civil rights groups, will be keenly monitoring the hearing’s result to find a middle ground between protecting public safety and honouring religious beliefs.
