Kanwar Yatra row: After UP & Uttarakhand, Ujjain civic body asks shop owners to display names

UJJAIN: Ujjain Municipal Corporation on Saturday directed shop owners to display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments in the ancient city.
This directive follows a similar order by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route.
Violators will be fined Rs 2,000 for the first offence and Rs 5,000 for subsequent violations, Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal stated on Saturday.This order is aimed at ensuring safety and transparency and not intended to target Muslim shop-keepers, the mayor said.
Ujjain is known for the sacred Mahakal temple, attracting many devotees, especially during the Savaan month starting Monday. The Mayor clarified that the proposal for shopkeepers to display their names was approved by the Mayor-in-Council of Ujjain on September 26, 2002, followed by the Corporation House. It was later sent to the state government for objections and formalities.
"All formalities have been already completed. The implementation was delayed as the nameplates were initially required to be of the same size and color. Now, we have relaxed these terms. Displaying the names and mobile numbers of shopkeepers will suffice," Mukesh Tatwal said.
He stressed that the measure is rooted in the MP Shop Establishment Act or Gumasta License, aimed at enhancing customer safety.
"Ujjain is a religious and holy city. People come here with religious aastha (faith). They have the right to know about the shopkeeper whose services they are availing. If a customer is dissatisfied or cheated, knowing the shopkeeper's details allows them to seek redress," the mayor said.
Ujjain is preparing to host the Simhastha (Kumbh) Mela in 2028, a significant religious event held every 12 years.
This new directive in Ujjain mirrors a recent order in Uttar Pradesh, asking all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owners' names. The Uttar Pradesh government expanded this order statewide on Friday. Similarly, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami noted that such instructions are already in place in his state.