India’s Supreme Court Blocks Mandatory Owner Disclosure for Restaurants

India’s Supreme Court ruled on Monday that restaurants cannot be mandated to display their owners’ names, suspending controversial police orders from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Arab News reported yesterday.

These orders, deemed discriminatory by critics, aimed to assist Hindu pilgrims with dietary restrictions during a holy month by identifying restaurant owners. While the court acknowledged the need for restaurants to indicate food types, such as vegetarian options, it emphasized that owner identities should not be disclosed.

The police directives sparked concerns about deepening communal divides, with fears that Hindus might avoid dining at establishments owned by Muslims. Critics, including opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav, labeled the orders as detrimental to social harmony.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs the two states, has been accused of targeting the Muslim minority for political gain, a claim the party denies.