In a big jolt to the the Uttar Pradesh , Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments the apex court has still continued the stay on the orders of the above governments directing the shopkeepers, restaurant and hotel owners, Rehrivallahs or vendors on the Kanwad Yatra route which has created quite a controversy with the various opposition parties , especially CONGRESS and I.N.D.I.A. alliance criticizing the ruling political dispensation s in these states accusing them to create division among various religions etc. According to the latest news the Supreme Court has continued the stay after acknowledging the affidavit from the Uttar Pradesh governments, though the governments of Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh have also been asked to submit their respective affidavits with a week . The next date of hearing in the matter has now been fixed for August 5 th. During the hearing, the senior advocate and counsel for the petitioners against the orders of the UP, UK and Uttarakhand governments Abhishekh Manu Singhvi said that he has come to know today morning only about the affidavit having been submitted by the UP government in the SC. While the UP counsel Mukul Rohtagi has confirmed about the submission of the affidavit today. Meanwhile the Uttarakhand government has asked for two weeks time to submit the affidavit whereas the Madhya Pradesh Government ‘s counsel has clarified that not orders in this regard have been issued except by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation. In the context of the UP government , the counsel for petitioner said in the court that the UP government has accepted that by issuing such orders they did committed a blunder though for a short span. While the arguments were going on the counsel for UP f government said that they are the victim of one sided orders in this regard the time frame of which will come to an end. To this abhishekh Manu Singhvi said that there should be immediate action on this. During the last sixty years no body has asked for the name plates of the owners as asked this time. Even in the affidavit of the UP government it has been categorically accepted that blunder ( discrimination) has been committed but this was for a short time. The Supreme Court justices said that they haven’t gone through the affidavits as it was received last night. But stressed that it should be implemented in toto in the entire country. During arguments the UP government’s counsel Mukul Rohtagi said that there is no harm in mentioning the names in the name plates. He said there should be rather a law on this to which the court said they don’t agree and issued orders of stay. The Uttarakhand government ‘s counsel said that the names should be declared as per rules mandatorily. The Kanwad Yatras are being held since time immemorial . We are issuing some sub rules for the Kaanwad pilgrims which are pending for years. He said that it would be wrong to say that there is no rule for displaying the name of the shopkeepers etc. Mukul Rohtagi said they should have mentioned and acquaint the court that there is a central law in this regard. We have issued the directives yesterday that you will have to implement these laws in everyone said Mukul Rohtagi counsel for the UP government. On the intervention of the petitioner’s counsel the counsel of UP n Uttarakhand said we are facing problems for the devotees/ pilgrims. There are several dhabas in the way the names of which are Maa Durga and Sarasvati Dhabha, we eat there thinking that they serve the pious vegetarian meals. The Uttar Pradesh government wants that the eating needs of the pilgrims ( Kanwad Yatris) should be duly taken care of and respected. The counsel said after entering these dhabas we notice different people and the food being served is non vegetarian. We want to keep our fundamental rights protected. Therefore display of nameplates voluntarily on their shops is necessary. However, the SC has stayed the UP, UK n MP governments decision till at least 5 th of August the day of next hearing. The Supreme Court judges have categorically said that they have no objection if any shopkeeper or owner of hotel, restaurant, eatery etc writes his name willfully not under anyone’s pressure.
Meanwhile the UP government, in its reply, has said that the instructions issued by the state were made following complaints received from Kanwadis regarding confusion caused by the names of shops and eateries. On receiving such complaints, police officials took action to address the concerns of the pilgrims and maintain law and order.
The UP government has said that the state has not imposed any restrictions or prohibitions on the trade or business of food vendors (except the ban on selling non-vegetarian food), and they are free to conduct their business normally. The requirement to display the names and identities of the owners is merely an additional measure to ensure transparency and avoid any potential confusion among Kanwadis.
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