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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC notice to UP, Uttarakhand govts on QR code directive on Kanwar Yatra route
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response of the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments on a petition challenging the directive mandating display of QR codes on food stall owners along the 'kanwar' yatra route revealing the names and identities of owners. The court will hear the matter next on July 22. (PTI photo) The Kanwar Yatra began on July 11 and is expected to conclude by August 9. The court will hear the matter next on July 22. The court was hearing separate applications filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra and professor Apoorvanand Jha challenging the June 25 order issued by the UP administration requiring shop owners to display QR codes containing details of shop ownership outside their establishment. Also Read: Traffic restrictions in Delhi-NCR till July 23 amid Kanwar Yatra: Check alternate routes The applications pointed out that such a directive violated a July 22, 2024 order passed by the top court when the state was prohibited from coercing food stall owners to display their identities being in breach of their right to privacy. A bench of justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice on the applications and sought a response from the two state governments before the next date of hearing on Tuesday. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat appearing for Moitra told the court that the matter required urgent consideration as the June 25 directive is already being implemented. He requested for an early date but the bench kept the matter after a week to facilitate responses from the state governments. Jha, who is one of the petitioners who approached the court against similar directive last year, cited a press released issued by the UP government on June 25. He said, 'The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the Kanwar route, which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court.' While dealing with the issue last year, the top court on July 22, 2024 issued an interim stay on the enforcement of such directives, observing that the display of personal identity was neither backed by law nor necessary for the stated purpose of public order or food safety compliance. The court had clarified that no food stall owner can be forced to display the identity while it was open for persons to do so voluntarily. The directive issued last year required shopkeepers selling food items on the Kanwar Yatra route to display names of owners and the employees at a prominent place outside the shop, dhaba or restaurant. Besides Moitra and Jha, non-government organisation Association for Protection of Civil Rights had challenged the state's order last year. The present applications filed by Moitra and Jha accused the state authorities of 'circumventing the stay' issued by the top court by reintroducing the same directive requiring the name of the shop owner to be clearly displayed at each shop in QR code form under the garb of public safety and maintenance of law and order. 'These steps effectively serve the same unconstitutional end through digital means, in wilful disobedience of this court's directions,' Jha said in his application filed through advocate Akriti Chaubey. Further, asking owners to reveal religious, caste identities couched under the garb of 'lawful license requirements' breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba, restaurant owners, the application said, adding that the owner's identity is already displayed inside the shop on the license certificate. Apprehending risk to fundamental rights of the shop owners, the application sought an immediate stay on the state's directive.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Uttar Pradesh launches statewide drive to identify, certify Divyangjans with learning disabilities
A campaign to identify, evaluate, and issue disability certificates and Unique Disability Identity (UDID) cards to people with specific learning and intellectual disabilities across the state has been launched by the state commissioner for disabled persons, Uttar Pradesh, Professor Himanshu Shekhar Jha. Specific learning disabilities have been officially recognised under the 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act)' implemented in 2016. (SOURCED) This initiative is especially for those Divyangjans who are affected by specific learning disabilities like dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia. The State Commissioner stated that the intellectual capacity of these individuals is normal or above normal, and they have been making continuous contributions to society. However, until now, no dedicated statewide campaign had been launched to secure the rights of these Divyangjans. Jha stated that specific learning disabilities have been officially recognised under the 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act)' implemented in 2016. However, at the ground level, the benefits related to certification, identification, and access to schemes have remained limited. To address this gap, a statewide campaign has now been launched to ensure a streamlined process from identification to the distribution of disability certificates. The state commissioner has sent a letter dated June 3, 2025, to the director general of health and medical services, Uttar Pradesh, and all district magistrates, urging them to review pending disability certificate cases and expedite the process. In the letter, referring to the notification issued on March 12, 2024, he also recommended including private doctors in the certification panels to address the shortage of specialist doctors in districts, and suggested seeking assistance from specialist doctors at medical colleges. Additionally, he has recommended the reorganisation of medical boards, the appointment of experts based on specific disabilities, and an increase in the number of designated certificate issuance days to ensure the timely resolution of all pending cases. The impact of this campaign has already started showing results in various districts of the state. Specialist doctors are now actively participating in block-level camps organised jointly by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities and the basic education department, he said, adding, this campaign will serve as a vital step toward achieving the goals of the National Education Policy and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kudawala distribute electoral enumeration roll forms to voters in Patna
At around noon on July 11, businessman Arvind Kumar Jha, 55, was sitting at his two-wheeler accessories shop at the exhibition road in Patna, when he got a call from his home assistant Deepak Kumar, 22, saying the kudawala (municipal sweeper) had given him the electoral enumeration roll form to fill-up. When Mr. Jha came home late at night, he hurriedly filled up his form and submitted it to the same municipal sweeper when he visited his locality the next day. 'The kudawala had distributed the electoral enumeration roll form to everyone in the locality to fill up and almost all of us submitted that form to him next day', Mr, Jha told The Hindu on Tuesday (July 15, 2025). Mr. Jha has been living in a rental flat for decades near the Panchshiv mandir (temple) of the bus stand in the Kankerbagh locality of Patna. He, like others in the locality, added that he 'neither got any receipt by the kudawala, nor the form bore any bar code (QR code) on it'. Mr. Jha has been a voter at Raghunath Prasad Baika Ucch Madhyamik Vidyalaya (a government school) in the locality. He said he got a photograph of the filed-up form on his mobile phone for 'future references and proof'. Similarly, his neighbour Anand Kishore, 58, too is anxious. 'I just do not know what value this enumeration roll form carries. Here in a locality of the State capital when a kudawala distributes and collects forms with no receipt or the bar code given on the form, it creates serious doubts in our minds', said Mr. Anand, an insurance agent. 'We'll not be surprised when the same kudawala, one day, could be seen selling these forms as is to the kabadiwala (rag picker/ scrap dealer)', he added with a smile on his face as the other members of the locality nodded in affirmation. Mr. Anand further said that he would go the polling booth to meet the BLO (Booth Level Officer) Manju Devi on Tuesday to 'clear the doubt'. Mr. Kishore had received the enumeration roll forms for his family from the Kudawala for 'second time' as he had misplaced the form given the first time. While speaking to The Hindu, BLO Manju Devi was non-committal. 'I'm not aware whether the kudawala is distributing the enumeration form in the locality. 'Humko nahi pata hai' (I do not know) she said. The local residents said that Ms. Devi sits at the polling booth in a school and also at a corner place in the same locality everyday where one could go and submit the form. 'But, except the kudawala, no one has visited our locality for the electoral enumeration roll form', they echoed. 'Leave aside the seemanchal (border) or the remote districts of Bihar where the BLOs allegedly are not reaching out to the residents to distribute the electoral roll enumeration forms as per guidelines of the Election Commission, here in Patna kudawalas have been distributing the form to the residents and collecting it thereafter for submission. What more could be hilarious than this?', Mr. Kishore wondered adding, 'It's been an unnecessary harassment for common people like us who doesn't know what is happening. What if we are told at the election booth on the election day that we had not filled up our form and our names have been deleted from the electoral roll?', he asked while responding himself quickly, 'nothing at all'. 'It's been a mockery of democracy', quipped Mr. Jha standing by his side. Another resident of the locality Sachin Kumar said, he had filled up the bar coded form by going up to the polling booth. 'We as residents, too have some responsibilities to discharge', he further said with a puckish smile on his bearded face while admitting that he too, like others in the locality, had received the enumeration roll form by the kudawala. 'How much the government would do? Its's our duty too to do something on our own but it takes hours at the polling booth to do the required formalities', he added with a mock on his face. Meanwhile, two BLOs in the State have been booked allegedly for misleading voters and taking bribe from them while discharging their duties on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In Gaya district, the BLO Gauri Shankar, an assistant teacher, was accused of taking money from the voters for filling up the enumeration forms at a polling booth and in the Matihani Assembly constituency of Begusarai, a criminal case was registered against BLO Wazahat Ali Farooqui allegedly for giving wrong and misleading information regarding SIR to the voters. Out of total 7.89 crore voters in Bihar, the Election Commission said 83.66% enumeration forms have been collected as part of the ongoing SIR till July 14 and so far, 1.59% electors have been found to be deceased, 2.2% permanently shifted and 0.73% enrolled at more than one place. Thus, only 11.82% of electors now remain to submit their filled forms and nearly one lakh BLOs would soon begin their third round of door to door visits in the State. The last date of submission of the filled enumeration forms of electoral roll as part of ongoing SIR in the State is July 25. The State Assembly elections are due in October-November later this year.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"State govt has failed to provide security to public": Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Bihar Congress President Rajesh Kumar on Monday heavily criticiSed the NDA-led Bihar government over the previaling law and order situation in the state. The Bihar Congress President accused the government of 'failing to provide security to the public.' Speaking to ANI, he said, 'Earlier, Uttar Pradesh used to top the list of criminal incidents at national level, while Bihar was second on the list. But in today times, there has been surge in criminal incidents in Bihar, making it first in the list. These criminal incidents have been occurring on different segments of people, including businessmen, caste-based crimes... The state government has failed to provide security to the public...' Earlier today, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the Bihar government is unable to control law and order, with criminals becoming more brazen and citizens feeling unsafe. Addressing reporters in Patna, he questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue, asking if he will ever express concern or just deliver speeches. Yadav urged PM Modi to 'leave his teleprompter and speak his mind' about the situation in Bihar, suggesting that the Prime Minister is more focused on scripted speeches than addressing the state's real issues. The Bihar LoP described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as being in an 'unconscious state' and unable to handle Bihar's administration, with the Prime Minister allegedly controlling the state remotely. He accused the Chief Minister of failing to take action against criminals, allowing them to thrive in the state, claiming that the government is protecting criminals, emboldening them to commit crimes, and that the situation in Bihar is 'terrifying.' 'Narendra Modi should leave his teleprompter and speak his mind. The situation in Bihar is terrifying... Why is PM Narendra Modi silent? Will he ever express his concern and grief, or just give speeches?... If he gets votes from here, is it his responsibility to provide security here or not? The Chief Minister is in an unconscious state. He is not able to handle Bihar. The Prime Minister is handling it through a remote control. Criminals have become 'samratth' in Bihar, they have won,' said the RJD leader. He pointed out that in the past six months, nine prominent businessmen have been murdered in Bihar, highlighting the state's failure to maintain law and order. Gopal Khemka, a businessman and a BJP leader from Bihar, was shot dead outside his home in Patna earlier this month. He had previously requested police protection for his family. Days after Khemka was shot dead, another man was killed in Patna's Ram Krishna Nagar area after being shot by an unidentified assailant. The victim, Vikram Jha, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital. According to police, Jha was shot by a person who arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. A murder case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Jha, originally from Darbhanga district, had been living in Patna for a year and ran a grocery store. He lived with his family on the first floor of the same building. The reaction comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections which are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. While the NDA, consisting of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will once again be looking to continue their stint in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, consisting of the RJD, Congress, and left parties, will be looking to unseat Nitish Kumar. In the current Bihar Assembly of 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131 with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U)-45, HAM(S)-4, with the support of 2 Independent Candidates. The Opposition's INDIA Bloc has a strength of 111 members with RJD leading with 77 MLAs, Congress-19, CPI(ML)-11, CPI(M)-2 and CPI-2. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Petition filed in SC against UP's QR code directive for Kanwar Yatra vendors
The Supreme Court will hear a plea on Tuesday challenging Uttar Pradesh's directive mandating QR codes and owner identities at Kanwar Yatra food stalls. Ahead of the Kanwar Yatra starting July 11, UP mandated food stalls to display QR-code licences and complaint info to boost hygiene and food safety on the route. (Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times) The petition, filed by Apoorvanand Jha earlier this week, argued that the directive violates the top court's July 2024 interim order that stayed similar measures on the grounds that they were not legally mandated and could lead to discriminatory profiling. A bench headed by justice MM Sundresh is set to hear the matter on July 15. Ahead of the annual Kanwar Yatra, which began on July 11, the state government had introduced a new digital measure to strengthen food safety — all food vendors along the pilgrimage route will be required to display QR-code-based licences and complaint details. These QR codes, linked to the Food Safety Connect App, will allow pilgrims to instantly verify hygiene approvals and report unsafe practices. Citing a press release issued by the UP administration on June 25, Jha, one of the petitioners who had approached the court last year, said, 'The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the Kanwar route, which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court.' The top court had issued an interim stay on the enforcement of such directives on July 22, 2024, observing that the display of personal identity was neither backed by law nor necessary under food safety compliance. The court had clarified that no food stall owner can be forced to display their identity and that it will be open for persons to do so voluntarily. Advocate Akriti Chaubey, who filed Jha's application, said, 'Despite the above orders, it is now apparent that the state of Uttar Pradesh and other authorities are circumventing the stay by reintroducing the same directive stating that, as in the previous year, the name of the operator should be clearly displayed at each shop under the garb of public safety and maintenance of law and order.' Also Read: UP govt mandates QR licences for food vendors during Kanwar Yatra The application said that the state asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under 'lawful license requirements' breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba, and restaurant owners. It said that the licence certificate displayed in the shop reveals the name of the owner and can be easily accessed. Such 'vague and overbroad' directives to display religious identity give scope for violent enforcement of such a manifestly arbitrary demand both by vigilante groups and by authorities on the ground, the application added. The application, raising concerns about the risk to the fundamental rights of shop owners, has sought an immediate stay on the state's directive when the matter comes up for hearing on Tuesday. Also Read: Vendors on Kanwar Yatra route: Authorities talk of going soft, but compliance begins on ground Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand last year had directed all shopkeepers selling food items on the Kanwar Yatra route to display names of owners and the employees at a prominent place outside the shop, dhaba, or restaurant. Besides Jha, other petitioners who challenged the directive include Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR). The states last year had defended their decision requiring shop owners and their employees to disclose their identities, citing regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which mandate food businesses to display such details. The UP government in an affidavit filed last year said that the idea behind the directive is transparency and informed choice of the Kanwariyas regarding the food they eat, keeping in mind their religious sentiments. Denying any discrimination on religious or community lines, the state affidavit added, 'The temporary nature of the directives ensures that they do not inflict any permanent discrimination or hardship on the food sellers, simultaneously ensuring maintaining the sentiments of Kanwariyas and their religious beliefs and practices. The directive applies to a limited geographical extent to all eatery owners, regardless of their religious or community affiliations.'
