Ahmedabad: Owners of six non-vegetarian eateries from Somnath have approached Gujarat High Court challenging state govt’s notification prohibiting sale and storage of non-veg food in certain areas of the town.These restaurants are situated on a road that falls in one of the six prohibited zones specified in govt’s notification issued in Aug, permanently banning non-veg food items. They have challenged the notification, with their advocate Asarar Mansuri arguing that it is in violation of the rights enshrined in Article 19(1)g of the Constitution and that the authorities cannot restrain a person from conducting any trade or livelihood without reason.Govt has banned non-veg food in six zones in Somnath town, particularly in the 500-metre periphery of Somnath temple, and in areas where other religious places are situated on the ground that religious sentiments of the pilgrims should not be hurt. The petitioners submitted that the authorities forced them to shut their eateries, and the officials continue to harass them.Govt pleader G H Virk submitted that the petitioners’ shops and restaurants are situated on the main road leading to Somnath temple, and all the pilgrims have to encounter non-veg food items.According to advocate Mansuri, when the case was first heard by HC on Oct 7, these six petitioners were forced to sign a confession by the mamlatdar in a police chowky stating that they would not sell non-veg food in future and would deal in vegetable items only.HC questioned govt about the reason behind the mamlatdar getting signatures of these restaurant owners on the day HC heard the case. Further hearing will take place on Friday.
