Supreme Court Rules on QR Code Controversy Amid Kanwar Yatra

The Supreme Court has made a pivotal ruling concerning the QR code controversy linked to the Kanwar Yatra, favoring the Yogi government. The case, which has raised significant privacy concerns among stall owners, will see further hearings scheduled for July 22. The court's decision comes amidst ongoing discussions about the implications of displaying QR codes at eateries along the pilgrimage routes. This ruling not only addresses the immediate legal challenges but also highlights broader issues of discrimination and privacy rights during a significant religious event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2025, 18:42 IST

Supreme Court's Decision on QR Code Case

The Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling favoring the Yogi government regarding the QR code issue. The petitioner, who filed the plea, did not achieve any notable success. A brief hearing of just two minutes took place in the Supreme Court. The Kanwar Yatra has commenced and is scheduled to conclude by the 23rd. However, the petitioner was hopeful for interim relief in this matter. At the start of the hearing, the lawyers representing the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments, Jitendra Kumar Sethi, stated that the case is serious and requested a two-week extension. Consequently, the court has set the next hearing for the 22nd of July.

The bench, comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotishwar Singh, issued a notice to the state government and postponed the hearing on the petition filed by academician Apurvanand Jha and others to July 22.

Background of the QR Code Directive

The apex court had previously imposed a stay on similar directives issued by the BJP-led governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, which mandated eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names and details of their owners and employees. Citing a press release from the Uttar Pradesh administration dated June 25, Jha argued that the new measures require all eateries along the Kanwar route to display QR codes, revealing the owners' names and identities, which leads to the same discriminatory profiling that the court had previously halted.

Concerns Over Privacy Rights

The petition contends that the state government's directive, which requires stall owners to disclose their religious and caste identities under legal licensing requirements, infringes upon the privacy rights of shop, dhaba, and restaurant owners. During the Hindu calendar month of 'Shravan', many devotees bring sacred water from the Ganges to perform 'jalabhishek' on Shiva lingams. Numerous devotees abstain from consuming meat during this month, with some even avoiding food containing onions and garlic.