NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has intervened in a recent Uttar Pradesh directive that required shopkeepers and eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names and other details. In a temporary ruling issued on Monday, the court has halted this order, stating that the police cannot enforce the display of shop owners' names. They are only permitted to mandate the listing of food items available for sale.

The court's decision came during a hearing of petitions challenging the directive. One of the petitions was submitted by TMC MP Mahua Moitra. Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatt, who were reviewing the case, emphasized that eateries should not be forced to showcase their owners' names outside their establishments.

Additionally, the Supreme Court has asked for responses from the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi governments. This request is part of a broader review involving petitions that argue the directive infringes on constitutional rights and undermines the principle of secularism.

The Uttar Pradesh government had issued the controversial directive on July 20, requiring food shops along the Kanwar route to display the names of their owners. This move faced criticism from opposition parties in the state, who claimed it was discriminatory based on religion.

The Supreme Court has called for a response from the Uttar Pradesh government and scheduled the next hearing for July 26.

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