The order to display shop owner names is to maintain the law-and-order of the State : UP govt tells SC

Credits : OpIndia

New Delhi – ‘There have been instances of dispute over the food served enroute Kanwar Yatra. To prevent similar instances this year and to avoid hurting of the religious sentiments of millions of Kanwar pilgrims, who walk barefoot with sacred waters of Ganga, we have ordered displaying owner names outside the shops enroute Kanwar Yatra. The order intends to maintain the law-and-order of the State,’ stated the Uttar Pradesh Government in Supreme Court. UP Government’s order of displaying owner names outside the shops enroute Kanwar Yatra was challenged in the Supreme Court. The SC had ordered an interim stay on the order. The case was heard on 26th July, when the UP Government put forth their side.

1. In the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh Government gave example of some of the misleading names of the eateries, e.g. a shop named ‘Panditji ka Dhaba’, whose owner is a Muslim.

2. The Uttar Pradesh Government strongly supported their decision to display the names of shop owners. They also displayed photographs of some of the eateries along Kanwar route.

3. ‘Raja Ram Bhoj Family Tourist Dhaba’ is operated and owned by Wasim, ‘Rajasthani Khalsa Dhaba’ is owned by Furkhan, while ‘Panditji Vishnav Dhaba’ is owned by Sanavaar Rathod. These were some of the examples presented by the UP Government

4. The Government said that displaying the owners name is necessary to maintain harmony in the society.