New Delhi, 06 November (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Friday declined to lift the restrictions on the sale, preparation and storage of non-vegetarian food in the vicinity of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The apex court observed that a balance must be maintained between religious sentiments and the right to carry on a business. However, it urged the Gujarat High Court to deliver a final decision on the dispute at the earliest.

A Bench headed by Justice M. M. Sundresh was hearing a petition filed by restaurant operators challenging the restrictions. It refused to interfere with the Gujarat High Court's interim order, which had restored the ban on non-vegetarian food in the area surrounding the Somnath Temple.

Appearing for the restaurant operators, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi argued that a substantial section of the country's population consumes non-vegetarian food and that such restrictions were seriously affecting their businesses and the livelihoods of those dependent on them. He also questioned the ban, maintaining that food preferences were a matter of individual choice.

In response, the court observed that the matter required a careful balance between the competing considerations. It clarified that it did not wish to make any final observations on the issue at this stage. The Supreme Court requested the Gujarat High Court to expedite the hearing and dispose of the appeal within two months.

The restrictions originated from a notification issued by the Gir Somnath district administration on August 10, prohibiting the preparation, sale and storage of non-vegetarian food at eateries, hotels, shops and roadside stalls along specified pilgrimage routes and within a 500-metre radius of the Somnath Temple.

Restaurant operators challenged the notification before the Gujarat High Court. On October 30, a Single-Judge Bench of the High Court set aside the restrictions. However, following an immediate appeal by the state government, a Division Bench stayed the Single Judge's order later that day, thereby restoring the ban.

The Supreme Court has now declined to grant relief to the restaurant operators, leaving the question of the notification's validity to be decided by the Gujarat High Court. The matter is scheduled to come up before the High Court on November 25.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar