The US state department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, addressed the issue of “nameplates in Kanwar Yatra” on Thursday, alleging that the Supreme Court’s order was not currently in effect.
Responding to a question by a Pakistani journalist, Miller said that the US was aware of the reports.
“We have seen those reports. We have also seen reports that the Indian Supreme Court on July 22 issued an interim stay on the implementation of those rules.So they’re not actually in effect,” news agency ANI quoted Miller as saying.
“Speaking generally, we are always committed to promoting and protecting universal respect for the right of freedom of religion and belief for all anywhere in the world. And we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on the importance of equal treatment for members of all religions,” Miller added.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court halted Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and other state governments from enforcing their order that required shop owners and hawkers along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display their names and those of their staff members.
The court stated that only the type of food served should be mentioned. Notices were issued to the governments of UP, MP, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, seeking their responses by July 26, when the case will be heard again.
The court ordered, “We deem it appropriate to pass interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the impugned directives.In other words, the food sellers (including dhaba owners, restaurants, foods and vegetable sellers, hawkers, etc) may be required to display the kind of food that they are serving to the kanwariyas. But they must not be forced to display the name/identity of the owners and the employees deployed in their respective establishments.”
The bench expressed its initial disagreement with the directives issued by the state authorities. It stated that while the authorities can ensure that the kanwariyas are served vegetarian food that meets their preferences and hygienic standards, potentially through orders under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Street Vendors Act, 2014, the police cannot usurp the legal powers vested in the competent authority without a legal foundation.
(With agency inputs)
Responding to a question by a Pakistani journalist, Miller said that the US was aware of the reports.
“We have seen those reports. We have also seen reports that the Indian Supreme Court on July 22 issued an interim stay on the implementation of those rules.So they’re not actually in effect,” news agency ANI quoted Miller as saying.
“Speaking generally, we are always committed to promoting and protecting universal respect for the right of freedom of religion and belief for all anywhere in the world. And we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on the importance of equal treatment for members of all religions,” Miller added.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court halted Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and other state governments from enforcing their order that required shop owners and hawkers along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display their names and those of their staff members.
The court stated that only the type of food served should be mentioned. Notices were issued to the governments of UP, MP, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, seeking their responses by July 26, when the case will be heard again.
The court ordered, “We deem it appropriate to pass interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the impugned directives.In other words, the food sellers (including dhaba owners, restaurants, foods and vegetable sellers, hawkers, etc) may be required to display the kind of food that they are serving to the kanwariyas. But they must not be forced to display the name/identity of the owners and the employees deployed in their respective establishments.”
The bench expressed its initial disagreement with the directives issued by the state authorities. It stated that while the authorities can ensure that the kanwariyas are served vegetarian food that meets their preferences and hygienic standards, potentially through orders under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Street Vendors Act, 2014, the police cannot usurp the legal powers vested in the competent authority without a legal foundation.
(With agency inputs)
