Kanwar Nameplate Row: How UP, MP, and Uttarakhand Governments' Bet Backfired in Nameplate Dispute

On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Supreme Court imposed a stay on the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to mandate nameplates on shops along the Kanwar Yatra route. Justice Rishikesh Roy questioned whether Kanwar pilgrims expect all those involved in food preparation, serving, and farming to be non-minorities, given their devotion to Bhagwan Shiva. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing petitioner Mahua Moitra of TMC, acknowledged the unsettling nature of this expectation but argued it reflects a historical practice that predates independence. He noted that the focus should be on what is served rather than who serves it. Justice SVN Bhatti shared his preference for food from a Muslim restaurant due to perceived cleanliness.