Gujarat HC strikes down non-veg food ban near Somnath site

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has lifted the state government’s ban on non-vegetarian food near the Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Veraval.

Refusing the state’s request for an immediate stay on the decision, the court paved the way for vendors and eateries to resume selling non-vegetarian food once the official order is released.

The ruling comes in response to petitions filed by the owners of six local restaurants, including JM Restaurant, Khwaja Hindustan Restaurant, New Gulab, Kismat Restaurant, and Taj Restaurant, challenging the ban on preparing, storing, and selling non-vegetarian items within 500 metres of the temple and along its approach roads.

The state sought time to challenge it before a division bench following the pronouncement of the order.

“Nothing has been done since August 10. So, the position on the ground is not changing. We would like to carry this request for seven days because even interim relief was not granted, so that I can explore the LPA (Letters Patent Appeal) Bench in the next week,” said government pleader GH Virk.

The court declined to issue a stay on the order and observed, “The request for a stay… is not accepted.”

‘Somnath cannot be looked at as general commercial store’

During the proceedings, the state staunchly defended the restrictions and submitted that the significance of Somnath and the crowd at the temple during the period justified the regulation of food. Approximately 1.2 crore devotees visited Somnath in 2026, Virk said.

Citing judicial rulings and restrictions regarding pilgrimage centres across India, he contended that Somnath could not be looked at as a general commercial store.

The state argued that the restrictions were not applied town-wide, maintaining that devotees on designated pilgrimage routes should not be exposed to the sale of non-vegetarian food.

Restrictions beyond power of authorities, say restaurants

Representing restaurant owners, Advocate AL Mansuri said the restrictions went beyond the power given to authorities under the Gujarat Police Act.

The provision addressed licensing and regulation of places of public amusement, entertainment and assembly, not eateries, the counsel said. He further said the 2026 notification was expanded without sufficient reasoning, and officials did not provide a comprehensive public-order concern from the issue of the sale of non-veg food.

The restaurant owners said their eateries have been serving people for decades, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. They maintained that such restrictions impacted their livelihood and the jobs of their employees. There was no evidence of disturbances or clashes about the sale of non-veg, they said.

Submitting that the status quo had persisted since the final notification on August 10, Virk urged the court to keep its order in abeyance for seven days, which was subsequently denied.

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