UP Defends Kanwar Yatra 'Nameplate' Order, Tells Supreme Court It Was A Peace Measure

Noida: The Uttar Pradesh government has informed the Supreme Court that the directive for shops along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners was intended to avoid any accidental offense to the religious sentiments of Kanwariyas and to maintain "peace and tranquillity."

The state explained that this measure was introduced due to complaints from Kanwariyas about confusion caused by shop and eatery names. "Past incidents have shown that misunderstandings regarding the type of food being sold have led to tensions and disturbances. The directives are a proactive measure to avoid such situations," the government stated.

The government clarified that the order does not ban food trade or business—except for restrictions on non-veg food—and shopkeepers can continue their business as usual. The requirement to display owner names is a "merely an additional measure" for transparency and to prevent confusion.

The court was informed that even minor confusions regarding food served to Kanwariyas could "hurt their religious sentiments and lead to flare-ups, especially in a communally sensitive region like Muzaffarnagar."

The Uttar Pradesh government assured that the directive applies equally to all food sellers along the Kanwar Yatra route, regardless of religious or community affiliations. It emphasized that the order is meant to ensure public safety and order during the pilgrimage.

On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an interim order halting the 'nameplate' requirement, stating that only the type of food served should be displayed. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti also issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments regarding the 'nameplate' order. This followed a plea by the Association of Protection of Civil Rights challenging the directive.

Previously, the Muzaffarnagar Police had mandated that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route display owner names, but later made it voluntary. Subsequently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath enforced the order statewide, which was then adopted by the Uttarakhand government and the Ujjain administration in Madhya Pradesh.