Supreme Court Suspends Uttar Pradesh Directive On Displaying Shop Nameplates During Kanwar Yatra

The apex court of India has put a hold on Uttar Pradesh government's missive requiring shop owners to display nameplates outside their shops during the Kanwar Yatra.

The Supreme Court will hear the case again on 26 July, as per a report by The Economic Times.

The court has issued notices to the state governments where yatras occur, seeking their response to the petitions challenging this directive.

The UP government's directive drew widespread criticism from various political figures and the opposition, who accused the Yogi Adityanath government of having a "divisive agenda".

Earlier, Muzaffarnagar Police stated that they had urged all eateries to "voluntarily display" the names of their owners and employees, asserting that the intention was not to create "religious discrimination" but to facilitate the devotees.

Many opposition leaders including Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Brinda Karat of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal and Assadudin Owaisi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen had also vociferously criticised the UP government's order.

Actor Sonu Sood also waded into the controversy with a tweet on social media site X critiquing the order which drew mixed responses from the audience.

The Kanwar Yatra originates from Haridwar. Each year, during the holy month of Sawan, millions of Shiva devotees flock to Haridwar to collect the sacred waters of the Ganga. The kanwars carried by these devotees are meticulously prepared by Muslim families in Haridwar, who spend many months in creating this heritage craft.