📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Sujay2026
Religion
Supreme Court Declines Stay on Meat Ban Near Somnath Temple, Refers Appeals to Gujarat High Court
✍️ Live Law
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 07:02 PM
👁 9
The Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking a stay on the Gujarat government's meat ban near Somnath Temple and directed the matter to the Gujarat High Court for further hearing.
The apex court on Monday refused to grant a temporary injunction against the state-imposed restriction on the sale and consumption of meat within a specified radius of the historic Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The petition, filed by a coalition of traders and religious groups, argued that the ban infringed on livelihood and personal choice, but the bench found no immediate ground to halt the regulation.
In its order, the Supreme Court directed that all pending appeals and challenges to the ban be transferred to the Gujarat High Court, which will examine the constitutional and administrative aspects of the prohibition. The bench emphasized that the matter involves complex questions of public order, cultural heritage, and state authority, warranting a detailed hearing at the high court level.
The Gujarat government had introduced the meat ban earlier this year, citing concerns over the sanctity of the temple precincts and the need to maintain communal harmony. While the decision has drawn criticism from sections of the business community, officials say the restriction will remain in force pending the high court's verdict.
Legal experts note that the Supreme Court's referral does not preclude future judicial scrutiny; it merely postpones a final determination until the high court completes its review. The outcome could set a precedent for how religious sentiments intersect with commercial activities in other pilgrimage sites across India.
In its order, the Supreme Court directed that all pending appeals and challenges to the ban be transferred to the Gujarat High Court, which will examine the constitutional and administrative aspects of the prohibition. The bench emphasized that the matter involves complex questions of public order, cultural heritage, and state authority, warranting a detailed hearing at the high court level.
The Gujarat government had introduced the meat ban earlier this year, citing concerns over the sanctity of the temple precincts and the need to maintain communal harmony. While the decision has drawn criticism from sections of the business community, officials say the restriction will remain in force pending the high court's verdict.
Legal experts note that the Supreme Court's referral does not preclude future judicial scrutiny; it merely postpones a final determination until the high court completes its review. The outcome could set a precedent for how religious sentiments intersect with commercial activities in other pilgrimage sites across India.