July 2024,Supreme Court blocks Uttar Pradesh’s Kanwar Yatra nameplate directive. The controversial Kanwar Yatra regulation faces widespread opposition
At least for the time being, the Supreme Court has blocked the Uttar Pradesh government’s contentious directive concerning the Kanwar Yatra, a major Hindu pilgrimage. Numerous people are opposed to the regulation that mandates nameplates bearing the names of owners and employees at all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route.
The Kanwar Yatra controversy
Restaurants and shops along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are required by law to post nameplates with patrons’ contact details. Opponents of the order argue that it violates people’s right to privacy and their constitutional status as workers and business owners. Many individuals perceived the program as an attempt to create unnecessary divisions within communities, which led to a substantial amount of criticism.
The Supreme Court intervened later on.
The widespread opposition to the decree has caused the Supreme Court to temporarily postpone its execution. According to the Court’s interim order, restaurants only have to specify the kinds of food they serve (e.g., vegetarian or non-vegetarian), but they are not required to disclose any employees’ sensitive personal information. Until the order undergoes a more thorough review, this ruling aims to address concerns about discrimination and privacy.
Public and political reactions
The nameplate dispute has captured the attention of many in the political and public sectors. Sonu Sood, an actor, has spoken out against the decree, offering the inclusive term “humanity” as a replacement. The government has issued a regulation to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the Kanwar Yatra, but some view it as a tool to divide and oppress particular tribes.
The effect on both society and the law
Some have argued that the order is illegal because many people think it invades people’s privacy and doesn’t have a legitimate legal basis. Critics of the rule, who have called it “exclusion by identity,” have cited the regulation’s incompatibility with secular, welcoming society as the reason for their opposition. The Supreme Court’s decision to postpone the Kanwar Yatra demonstrates its care for finding a middle ground between religious sensitivities and basic rights.
