'Shop owners do not need to disclose their names', UP government gets a jolt over nameplate dispute; SC stays the decision.

The Supreme Court today heard the case of the Uttar Pradesh government's order to hotels on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. After the hearing, the court has stayed the decision of the UP administration.

The court sent notice to three state governments.

The court said that shopkeepers do not need to reveal their identity. Shop owners do not need to reveal their names. Shopkeepers only need to tell the type of food. This means that it is only required to be written on the shop whether non-vegetarian food is available there or vegetarian food. The court has issued notice to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh in this matter.

Mahua Moitra filed a petition.

The petition was filed by the NGO Association of Protection of Civil Rights. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also filed a petition against the order, which has been listed for hearing now. A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Rai and Justice SVN Bhatti heard the case.

Police strictly enforcing orders: Petitioner.

The Supreme Court asked whether it was a press statement or a formal order that these should be displayed. The counsel for the petitioners replied that first there was a press statement and then there was outrage among the people and they say it is voluntary but they are strictly enforcing it.

The council said there is no formal order but the police are taking strict action. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioner, said it is a pseudo-order.

Senior advocate CU Singh, representing one of the petitioners, said, "Most of the people are very poor vegetable and tea shop owners, and being subjected to such economic boycott will lead to their economic death. Shopkeepers have faced bulldozer action for not complying."

The Supreme Court told Singhvi that we should not describe the situation in such a way that what is on the ground is exaggerated. These orders also have dimensions of safety and hygiene.

Singhvi says that Kanwar Yatras have been happening for decades and people of all religions including Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists help them on their way. Now you are boycotting a particular religion."

What argument did Abhishek Manu Singhvi give?

Abhishek Manu Singhvi further said, "There are many pure vegetarian restaurants which are run by Hindus and they may also have Muslim staff, can I say that I will not go there and eat because the food is touched by Muslims or Dalits in some way or the other?

Singhvi says that the directive says "svechchha se" (willingly) but where is the willingness?

Uproar after the Muzaffarnagar administration's order

After the Muzaffarnagar police directed all eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday extended it to the entire state. Earlier this week, the Muzaffarnagar police issued an order that shopkeepers on the Kanwar Yatra route must put up nameplates on their shops so that Kanwariyas know the name of the shopkeeper.