Supreme Court Orders Hotels On Kanwar Yatra Route To Display Valid Licences

On 22 July 2025, the Supreme Court of India instructed all hotels, dhabas, and food outlets situated along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to ensure that their official licences and registration certificates are clearly displayed, in accordance with legal obligations.

The direction came from a bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh during a hearing of a petition that raised concerns about recent state government measures. The Court noted that the Kanwar Yatra is concluding and therefore limited its order to enforcement of statutory display requirements.

“We have been informed that today marks the end of the yatra, or that it is nearing its conclusion. At this stage, we are only directing that establishments display their licence and registration certificate as required by existing laws,” the bench stated.

The matter arose from a petition led by academic Apoorvanand Jha, who challenged a directive issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on 25 June 2025. The directive required eateries along the pilgrimage route to display QR codes disclosing the identity of the owner. The petitioners argued that such measures effectively reintroduce profiling practices that had been put on hold by the Court in 2024.

They contended that linking business licences to personal or community details, such as religious or caste identity, undermines privacy protections and has a discriminatory effect. Last year, similar state-level orders demanding the disclosure of staff and owner names were stayed by the apex court.

The Kanwar Yatra, which takes place during the Hindu month of Shravan, draws large numbers of devotees who travel to collect water from the Ganga River and offer it at Shiva temples. Many of those participating observe strict dietary customs during this period, avoiding meat and, in some cases, ingredients such as onion and garlic.

While the Court refrained from addressing the broader issues raised in the petition, it emphasised that compliance with lawful display of licences remains mandatory. The petitioners may continue to pursue the remaining concerns once the yatra concludes.