New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Monday put an interim stay on the directive of the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh, which ordered all shopkeepers and dhaba owners to display their names and other information during the Kanwar Yatra. In the interim order, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Uttar Pradesh Police cannot force shopkeepers to display their names. Instead, they can only require the display of food items. Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of a petitioner in this case.
The Supreme Court said that the owners of dhabas along the Kanwar Yatra route should not be forced to display their names outside the shops. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatt was hearing petitions filed against the said directive. One of these petitions was filed by TMC MP Mahua Moitra. The Supreme Court has issued notices to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi and sought responses on petitions alleging that the state government’s decision is a violation of constitutional provisions and against secularism.
What arguments were put forward in the Supreme Court room
– The petitioner said that they are saying that this is voluntary but it is being done forcibly, action is being taken against those who do not agree. They are being fined. This is just a few kilometers away from Delhi. In a way, it is equivalent to their economic death.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi- When we go to a restaurant, we look at the menu. Not who has prepared it. This kind of thing would not have been imagined in a democracy.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi further argued – The Yatra has been taking place for decades. People of all religions participate in it. During this time, there is already a complete ban on non-vegetarian food.
– Supreme Court – Do not expand beyond what is there on the ground. There are three standards for this, security standards and secularism. All three are important.
– Judge Bhatti – At one place there was a hotel owned by a Muslim and a Hindu. I used to go to the Muslim one because international standards were followed there.
– Singhvi – Thousands are losing their jobs. This needs to be looked into. This is an idea to separate not only Muslims but also Dalits.
– Judge: What do the Kawadias want? They worship Lord Shiva. Do they want the food to be grown, cooked and served by a particular community?
– Judge- There can be two perspectives to this. It may have been done keeping in view the quality and safety of the food.
– Petitioner – UP CM has also said that this has to be implemented. It is being implemented even in those places where the Yatra does not take place. There are also media reports that people from a particular community are being fired from their jobs.
Let us tell you that on July 20, the Uttar Pradesh government issued instructions to display the names of the owners for food shops on the Kanwar route. This instruction was attacked by opposition parties in the state, who cited discrimination on the basis of religion. The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the instruction and has scheduled the next hearing for July 26.
While fixing the next hearing of the case on Friday, the bench said that we deem it appropriate to pass an interim order to stay the enforcement of the above instructions. In other words, food vendors may be required to display the variety of food items, but they should not be forced to display the names of owners, employees employed by them.
Tags: Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Supreme Court
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 22, 2024, 20:04 IST