The Supreme Court has recently intervened in a contentious issue surrounding the Kanwar Yatra, a significant Hindu pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Shiva. The court issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding its directive that mandates eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes containing information about the owners. This move has sparked a row, with petitioners arguing that it is a form of religious profiling and a violation of a previous Supreme Court order.
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where devotees, known as Kanwariyas, travel to sacred sites like Haridwar and Gangotri to collect water from the Ganga River. They then carry this holy water back to their hometowns to offer it at Shiva temples. The Yatra typically takes place during the Sawan month of the Hindu calendar, which is considered auspicious for worshipping Lord Shiva. This year, the Kanwar Yatra began on July 11, 2025.
The controversy arose from an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh government, requiring all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes. These QR codes, when scanned, would reveal the names and other details of the eatery owners. The government has stated that this measure is intended to maintain law and order and to respect the religious sentiments of the pilgrims. Many Kanwariyas follow a strict vegetarian diet and avoid establishments run by individuals of certain religious backgrounds.
However, the directive has faced strong opposition. Petitioners argue that it indirectly forces shop owners to reveal their religious identity, potentially leading to discrimination and harassment. They contend that this measure disproportionately affects Muslim-owned businesses and those belonging to Scheduled Castes. Furthermore, they argue that it infringes upon the right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
This is not the first time such a directive has been challenged in court. In July 2024, the Supreme Court stayed similar orders issued by the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments, which required eateries to display the names of owners and staff. The court had then ruled that food sellers should only be required to disclose the type of food they serve, not their personal details.
The petitioners in the current case argue that the QR code mandate is a "wilful disobedience" of the Supreme Court's previous order. They claim that it achieves the same discriminatory profiling through digital means. Delhi University professor Apoorvanand Jha and activist Aakar Patel, who filed the petition, assert that the directive creates a "grave and imminent risk" to the rights of vendors, especially those from minority communities. They also express concerns that it could lead to violent enforcement by vigilante groups and authorities.
The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of these concerns and issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking a response to the petition. The court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 22, 2025. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the rights of business owners and the balance between religious sentiments and individual liberties during the Kanwar Yatra and other similar events.
Meanwhile, as the Kanwar Yatra progresses, authorities are taking measures to manage traffic and ensure the safety of pilgrims. Traffic advisories have been issued in Delhi and Noida, with restrictions and diversions in place to accommodate the large number of devotees. The Delhi Traffic Police has urged the public to avoid non-essential travel on certain routes and has deployed additional personnel to monitor traffic flow.
