India's highest court has temporarily halted orders from two state governments mandating that restaurants must publicly display the names of their owners, according to local media. This decision comes after widespread criticism that the rule was designed to segregate eateries based on religious lines.
The directive was introduced last week by the neighboring states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, both governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along a path frequently used by Hindu pilgrims during the sacred month of Shravan. In its temporary ruling, the Supreme Court stated that while it is not necessary for businesses to list their owners' names outside, they are required to showcase the available food items, as reported by the legal site LiveLaw.
The court is scheduled to revisit the issue on Friday. The Uttar Pradesh government, which initially enforced the rule, claimed it was intended to uphold the spiritual integrity of the pilgrims, known as 'kanwarias'. During Shravan, many devout Hindus abstain from consuming meat and fish. However, opponents of the regulation, including some BJP affiliates, argue that it aims to deter pilgrims from supporting restaurants owned by minority groups.
Both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have experienced rising religious tensions in recent times, with critics accusing the BJP-led governments in these states of marginalizing minorities.
