The Supreme Court on Monday extended its July 22 interim order staying the directives issued by the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of their owners, staff and other details.
The opposition had dubbed the directives issued by the three states as divisive and discriminatory against Muslims, and the apex court’s order effectively ensured that the Yatra was held without their orders being enforced.
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 consuming meat during the month they consider holy. Many don’t even consume meals containing onions and garlic.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and R Mahadevan could not hear the matter due to paucity of time but extended the interim order.