SC notice to UP on plea against State’s QR code directive for eateries along kanwar yatra route

 

 

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from the Uttar Pradesh Government on a plea challenging the state’s directive mandating the display of QR codes on all eateries along the ‘kanwar’ yatra route, which reveal the names and identities of the owners. The top court had last year stayed similar directives issued by BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh , asking eateries along the kanwar yatra routes to disclose identities. Referring to a press release issued by the UP administration on June 25, Jha, said, “The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the kanwar route, which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court.”

 

The petition said the Government’s directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under “lawful license requirements” breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba, and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees travel from various places with ‘kanwars’ carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform ‘jalabhishek’ of Shivlings during the Hindu calendar month of ‘Shravan’. Many believers shun consumption of meat during the month. Many don’t even consume meals containing onions and garlic.