Gujarat High Court restores restrictions on non-vegetarian food near Somnath temple within hours of a single judge quashing them
The stay is interim: the division bench has not ruled on whether the restriction is valid, and the appeal comes up on 25 November.
- Hindustan Times
- LawChakra
A division bench of the Gujarat High Court on Friday stayed a single judge's order that had quashed restrictions on non-vegetarian food near the Somnath temple, Hindustan Times reported. Earlier the same day, Justice Nisha M. Thakore had allowed petitions by hotel and restaurant owners in Prabhas Patan, Gir Somnath district.
She set aside a notification issued by the district magistrate on 10 August 2026 and declined the State's request to stay her judgment. The State then moved the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak and Justice Nirzar S. Desai.
The bench ordered that the notification remain in force until the returnable date of the appeal, 25 November 2026, according to LawChakra. The notification bars the preparation, storage and sale of non-vegetarian food within 500 metres of the Somnath Mahadev temple.
It also covers six designated roads linking sacred sites such as Bhalka Tirth, Gita Mandir and Shankh Circle. It was issued under Section 33(1)(w) of the Gujarat Police Act, 1951, after objections were invited on a draft in July.
The restaurant owners argued that the curbs violated their fundamental right to carry on business and earn a livelihood. The State argued that this right did not extend to every activity at every location regardless of religious and cultural significance.
HT noted that Prabhas Kṣetra includes Bhalka Tirth, associated with the final earthly journey of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. LawChakra recorded that the division bench has not finally decided the appeal.
Key data
Notification dated 10 Aug 2026; 500-metre radius around the temple; six designated roads; single-judge order passed around 3 pm on 30 Oct and stayed the same evening; appeal returnable 25 Nov 2026.
Why it matters
The case will test how far the State can protect the sanctity of a major pilgrimage zone when it limits local trade. For devotees visiting Somnath, the existing restrictions stay in place for now.
GK: did you know?
The present Somnath temple was inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad on 11 May 1951, and Somnath is traditionally counted first among the twelve Jyotirliṅgas.
