The Uttar Pradesh Government, in a reply to the SC, said that they issued nameplate directive to ensure peaceful ‘Kanwar yatra’ pilgrimage.
Explaining the reason behind such directive, state government maintained that the idea was to maintain the transparency in eateries on the route of ‘Kanwar Yatra’ keeping their religious sentiments in mind so that pilgrims can make informed choices regarding food.
“Even small confusions regarding the kind of food they (Kanwariyas) are served, has the potential to hurt their religious sentiments and cause flare-ups, especially in a communally sensitive area like Muzaffarnagar,” said the affidavit sworn by Saharanpur’s Divisional Commissioner.
It added that the nameplate directive was issued solely in the interest of ensuring a peaceful completion of the Kanwar Yatra. The State’s response made it clear that the directive was to be in effect only for the period of two weeks. More than 4.07 crore of Kanwariyas participate in the pilgrimage annually.
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It further said, “The temporary nature of the directives ensures that they do not inflict any permanent discrimination or hardship on the food sellers, simultaneously ensuring maintaining the sentiments of Kanwariyas and their religious beliefs and practices. Moreover, the said guidelines have only been issued for a limited geographical extent.”
The state government further explained that it is committed to the secular values of the nation and that it will protect the religious sentiments of every individual regardless of their religion.
SC had put stay on nameplate directive
The top court on Monday had stayed the operation of controversial directives issued by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments ordering all eateries and dhabas along the Kanwar Yatra route to display names of owners and workers.
Issuing notice on petitions challenging the impugned directives, a Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S.V.N. Bhatti remarked that the devotees may be served with food of their choice maintaining standard hygiene.
