Supreme Court refuses to lift non-veg food ban near Somnath Temple

The Supreme Court on Friday (November 6) declined to lift the ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food in the vicinity of Somnath Temple in Gujarat.

During the hearing, the bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale refused to interfere with the Gujarat High Court’s interim order, which restored a ban on the preparation, sale and storage of non-vegetarian food near Somnath Temple within hours after the ban was struck down by a single judge of the High Court.

When the counsel for the restaurant owners argued that the ban would wipe out business and 80 per cent of the people in the country consume meat, the bench responded, stating that it is required to maintain a balance, adding that it would not say anything on the matter at the current stage.

"We need to maintain a balance. We don’t say anything," the bench said, as quoted by the Bar and Bench.

Urges HC to expedite hearing

However, it also urged the Gujarat High Court to expedite the hearing of the case in a timely manner. "We request the High Court to decide the appeal expeditiously within a period of 2 months," stated the top court.

Also Read: Gujarat HC division bench stays order quashing ban on non-veg food near Somnath Temple

"Celebrate the festival of lights (Diwali) by having sweets. Leave veg or non-veg aside,” it added in a lighter vein.

Restaurant owners challenge ban

Earlier, during the hearing, appearing for the restaurant owners who challenged the ban, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmedi said, "80 per cent of this country is non-vegetarian. Why are we getting so hypersensitive that the State is passing such orders? Permanent bans are strange. In Bijoe Immanuel, it was said that our philosophy teaches tolerance. Our constitution teaches tolerance... You can’t force a dietary habit."

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Pointing out that the single judge’s order, which struck down the ban, was stayed within hours by a Division Bench, the advocate further stated, "What was the tearing urgency? We have been running eating houses for the last 40 years."

Centre cites temple corridor, vegetarian food option

Countering the argument, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, told the court that the "High Court has kept it on 25th November.. in 2018 it was 500 meter periphery from temple. Thereafter, the government has provided a corridor. They are permitted to serve vegetarian food.”

The case pertains to a notification issued by a District Magistrate in Gujarat on August 10, enforcing the ban.