As the Kanwar Yatra unfolds, a fresh legal storm brews: the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over its directive that eateries and dhabas along the pilgrimage route must display QR codes revealing ownership details. This requirement, which links to a food-safety app, is being challenged as intrusive, discriminatory, and a breach of privacy rights.

The petition, filed by activists and a DU professor, argues the rule amounts to “digital religious profiling,” in violation of a prior Supreme Court order that banned shopkeepers from displaying their names publicly along the route. They say the QR code rule is just the same old policy, masked behind technology. The court has asked the state to respond by July 22, while the yatra continues until July 23.

Critics point out that such directives can facilitate communal bias. Last year, similar nameplate orders sparked backlash from minority-owned eateries, alleging targeting and marginalization. The state maintains it’s about food safety and transparent licensing, not surveillance.

For pilgrims, this debate may feel distant compared to chanting and trudging under the hot sun. But for vendors especially small dhaba owners, the directive carries real consequences. They fear being forced into displaying identity details merely to stay open.

At its heart, this legal battle raises sensible questions: can governments compel personal data disclosure under the guise of regulation? Is the route related to a folk faith entitled to monitor beyond general investigation? The upcoming hearing of the Supreme Court can set an important example on the balance between security and personal privacy. As people continue their journey, this matter reminds us that even the holy routes are not beyond legal protection.