Supreme Court upholds non-vegetarian food ban near Somnath temple

The Supreme Court of India has declined to stay an interim order maintaining a ban on the preparation, sale, and storage of non-vegetarian food and eggs within 500 metres of the Somnath temple in Gujarat. The ruling follows a notification issued on August 10 by the Gir Somnath District Magistrate under the Gujarat Police Act, 1951.

Restaurant owners challenged the restrictions, arguing that the ban violates their right to practice trade and threatens their livelihoods, particularly during festive seasons. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the petitioners, argued that dietary habits should not be regulated by law. Conversely, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea, noting that vegetarian food remains permitted in a government-provided corridor.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale, emphasized the necessity of balancing religious sentiments with business interests. The court has requested the Gujarat High Court to expedite its decision on the pending appeals, preferably within two months. The matter may also be influenced by an upcoming Constitutional Bench judgment regarding religious freedoms and Article 25 of the Constitution.