New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard the nameplate dispute for shops and eateries on the Kavad Yatra route on Friday. The Uttar Pradesh government said in the court that we should also respect the food choices of Shiva devotees Kanwadis.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti is hearing the case.
The Supreme Court said, ‘Our order is clear that if someone wants to write his name outside the shop on his own will, then we have not stopped him. Our order was that one cannot be forced to write the name.’
The court had put an interim stay on the order of Uttar Pradesh government to compulsorily put nameplates on the shops on the Kanwar Yatra route, which was continued on Friday as well. The Supreme Court said that a counter affidavit should be filed on behalf of Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The next hearing in the case will now be held on Monday.
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that he had received the reply from the UP government at 10:30 pm last night. Uttarakhand has sought two weeks’ time to file its reply. The Uttarakhand lawyer said that there is a law that makes it mandatory for shop owners to reveal their names. Yatras have been happening for years. There are bylaws that we are implementing.
Uttarakhand said that registration is mandatory for shopkeepers. The interim order is causing a lot of problems. These bye-laws are not limited to food only. Nameplates should be mandatory for all businesses. Justice Roy said that show us where in your states you have asked for such information.
Uttarakhand said that this order will create problems in maintaining law and order. Suppose someone brings narcotics to a mango cart, it will not be identified. At least implement the law. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, said that if the law allows display of names, then the Supreme Court’s order would be contrary to the state law.