The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a series of petitions on Monday challenging a directive by the Uttar Pradesh government. This directive mandates shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names. The case, brought forward by the NGO Association for Protection of Civil Rights and Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra among others, will be heard by Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti.
Last week, the Muzaffarnagar Police ordered eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owners’ names. Subsequently, the UP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended this directive statewide, with Uttarakhand following suit.
Mahua Moitra’s plea argues that these directives violate several constitutional rights. She contends that the orders are arbitrary, lacking in principle, and unfairly burden marginalized sections of society with responsibilities that should be handled by the state.
Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand and former Amnesty India head Aakar Patel have also approached the Supreme Court against these directives, arguing that they exceed the state’s authority and lack legal basis.
The directives have sparked criticism not only from opposition parties but also from some allies of the ruling NDA coalition. Critics allege that the directives are divisive and aimed at targeting specific communities, such as Muslims and Scheduled Castes, by forcing them to disclose their identities. In contrast, the BJP maintains that the directives are intended to maintain law and order and respect the religious sentiments of pilgrims.
With the budget session of Parliament commencing, the issue is expected to be raised in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. At a recent all-party meeting, opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, SP, and AAP criticized the directives and demanded a parliamentary discussion on the matter.
Even BJP allies like JDU and RLD have joined in calling for the withdrawal of the contentious directives.