Shops not required to display owners’ names until further ruling: SC

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted an Uttar Pradesh government order requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and employees. The UP government directive has been criticized as an unconstitutional ruling by the opposition and rights activists, who said that it was an attempt to economically boycott the Muslim community.

The court, recognizing the broader implications of this directive across multiple states, has issued notices to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The court has scheduled a returnable date for Friday and, in the meantime, has issued an interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the directive. Food sellers are not required to display the names of their owners and staff until further notice.

The directive, which has stirred up significant legal and public discourse, was criticized for promoting exclusion based on identity. Concerns were raised about the potential for discrimination against certain communities, particularly in relation to the food industry. Arguments were made that the focus should be on the quality of food rather than the identity of those preparing or serving it.

The initial order, enforced by police in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, mandated that all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route prominently display the names of their owners. This measure was justified as a means to prevent confusion and preempt any potential law and order issues. However, the directive faced backlash from various quarters, including opposition parties and some allies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with union ministers Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, expressed opposition to the order. Critics argued that the directive could lead to discriminatory practices and heightened communal tensions.

Despite the police's assertion that compliance with the directive was voluntary, concerns persisted about its underlying motives. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi suggested that the directive aimed to discourage Kanwariyas from patronizing establishments owned by Muslims.