Supreme Court Questions UP-Uttarakhand’s QR Code Order for Shopkeepers on Kanwar Yatra Route

National News: With the holy month of Sawan underway, the Kanwar Yatra is taking place across the country. Lakhs of Kanwar pilgrims are collecting Gangajal from different places and offering it to Lord Shiva. Many states have made special arrangements for these pilgrims, especially Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where the government has issued certain guidelines for the Kanwar route. However, the Supreme Court has now raised questions about one such guideline.

Why the QR Code Rule?

Both UP and Uttarakhand governments have ordered shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes at their shops. These QR codes must contain the complete identity of the shop owner. Now, the Supreme Court has asked both state governments to explain the reason behind this rule.

Supreme Court Gives 1 Week Time

A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice N Kotiswar Singh has given one week to both state governments to respond. The Court has asked them to submit a reply by next Tuesday, explaining why this QR code rule was made mandatory.

Request for 2 Weeks Rejected

Advocate General Jitendra Kumar Sethi, representing both states in court, requested two weeks time to file the reply. However, senior advocate Shadan Farasat opposed this, saying the Kanwar Yatra will end in 10–12 days. The Supreme Court agreed with this point and refused to give extra time, directing the states to reply by next Tuesday.

What Is the QR Code Order?

To ensure safety and monitoring during the Kanwar Yatra, the UP and Uttarakhand governments issued a notice. According to this order, all food shop owners on the Kanwar route must display a QR code that reveals the owner's identity. The government claims this is for better regulation during the yatra.

Order Challenged in the Supreme Court

This order has been challenged in the Supreme Court. The petition argues that the move violates a previous interim order by the Court. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that shopkeepers cannot be forced to disclose their identity. Now, this QR code rule has become a point of legal debate.

The Supreme Court has taken this matter seriously and wants a clear explanation from both UP and Uttarakhand. It remains to be seen whether the rule stands or is withdrawn in light of the Court's previous orders.