Ahmedabad: On Friday evening, a division bench of Gujarat High Court temporarily restored the state govt’s Aug 12 notification banning the sale of non-vegetarian food near the Somnath temple and on routes leading to it, hours after a single judge quashed the order.
The court allowed the restaurants to continue their businesses and rejected the state govt’s request for a brief stay on the order. Justice Nisha Thakore had on Friday afternoon set aside the notification while hearing a petition filed by seven hoteliers challenging the ban and the authorities’ direction requiring them to serve only vegetarian food.
This led the state govt to rush to the high court to uphold its ban on restaurants selling non-vegetarian food in Prabhas Patan, Veraval, the town that houses the famous Somnath temple. During the evening hearing, advocate general Kamal Trivedi and the govt pleader sought a stay on the single judge’s order. They cited prohibitory orders issued and upheld in other temple towns, including Haridwar, and argued that the state was justified in prohibiting non-vegetarian food in certain areas around the Somnath temple to avoid hurting the religious sentiments of pilgrims.
Govt pleader G H Virk sought an immediate hearing before the acting chief justice, and the matter was taken up after court hours.
The state also argued that the single judge’s order should be stayed in view of the Diwali festival, when the number of pilgrims is expected to increase. It submitted that the open sale of non-vegetarian food in such areas could create a law-and-order situation. Appearing for the hoteliers, advocate Asarar Mansuri argued that govt had exceeded its powers under Gujarat Police Act by compelling eateries not to sell non-vegetarian food and forcing them to serve only vegetarian cuisine. He also submitted that objections to the sale of meat appeared contrived, pointing out that Veraval has long been a major seafood production centre. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Ahmedabad | Silver Rate in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Petrol Price in Ahmedabad | Diesel Price in Ahmedabad | CNG Price in Ahmedabad | LPG Price in Ahmedabad