Overview

• A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N.K. Singh will hear the petition challenging Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand’s June 25 directive on July 15.
• The directive mandates public display of QR codes linking to vendors’ names and identities at food stalls along the pilgrimage route.
• Professor Apoorvanand Jha argues the QR code rule flouts a 2024 interim stay and infringes vendors’ rights to privacy and dignity.
• States defend the measure as a transparency tool to inform pilgrims about food hygiene and complaint procedures via the Food Safety Connect App.
• Critics warn that the mandate exceeds existing food safety laws and risks facilitating religious or caste-based profiling of small vendors.