Gujarat defends non-veg ban near temple against restaurant challenge

The state government has mounted a robust defense of its decision to prohibit non-vegetarian food sales within a 500-metre radius of the temple, asserting that business rights must yield to the spiritual significance of sacred religious spaces.

Six restaurant owners have challenged the blanket ban, which was enforced two months ago, arguing it violates their right to conduct business. The petitioners contend that the restriction disproportionately affects their livelihoods and extends beyond reasonable regulatory boundaries.

The Gujarat government's legal counsel countered that protecting the sanctity of pilgrimage sites constitutes a legitimate state interest that supersedes commercial activities. Officials maintained that the prohibition is a reasonable exercise of regulatory authority aimed at preserving the religious character of the area.

The High Court is expected to weigh competing constitutional principles—the fundamental right to business and trade against the state's authority to regulate activities in and around places of religious worship. The judgment may set important precedent on how courts balance economic freedoms with the protection of religious sentiments in India.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between commercial interests and religious conservation efforts in temple towns across India, where balancing secular and spiritual considerations remains a persistent legal challenge.