New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted one week’s time to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to file their responses on a plea challenging the government directive mandating food sellers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR code stickers revealing owners’ details.
A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice N Kotiswar Singh posted the matter for next Tuesday after noting that the yatra will conclude within 10 to 12 days.
During the hearing, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand sought two weeks to file their replies. Deputy advocate general Jatinder Kumar Sethi appeared for the states. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the applicants, however, pressed for urgent hearing citing the time-sensitive nature of the issue.
Senior advocates Chander Uday Singh and Huzefa Ahmadi appeared for other petitioners in the matter.
The application seeks a stay on all directives requiring or facilitating public disclosure of ownership or employee identity of food vendors along the Kanwar Yatra routes in both states. It argues that the directions violate an interim order passed by the Supreme Court last year, which held that sellers cannot be forced to disclose their identities.
Applicants Professor Apoorvanand and activist Aakar Patel have alleged that this year’s QR code mandate circumvents the earlier court order and results in the disclosure of owners’ names and identities, leading to religious profiling. They contended that such directions have no backing of law and are aimed at creating religious polarisation and discrimination.
The bench has posted the matter for hearing next week.
UNI SNG PRS