Did You Verify Devotees' Customs Before Banning Eating Of Non-Veg Food Within 200 Metres Of Temple? Karnataka High Court Asks Police

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued notice to the State government on a plea by Sri Honneshwaraswamy Devasthana Jeernodhara Seva Samithi Trust (R), seeking quashing of a notice issued by the jurisdictional police stipulating not to consume non-vegetarian food around the precincts of Sri Honneshwara Deity.

The trust which manages the temple approached the court stating that the jurisdictional police officer, referring to orders of the high court in WP 18124/2023, has stipulated that no one should sacrifice or consume meat and those who violate this stipulation will have to face penal consequences.

The jurisdictional police in its July 13, 2024 notice stated that this stipulation would be for an area around 200 meters from the temple.

The counsel for petitioners argued that they cannot have any grievance about animal sacrifice but the petitioner's grievance stems from the fact that they reside within 200 meters and this not only stops them from having food of their choice but also prevents, contrary to local customs, offering services.

The plea states that the registered trust looks after the affairs of Sri Honneshwaraswamy Deity and the temple is a private temple. The devotees of the deity, who have spread all over Karnataka and also neighboring states, had constructed a kitchen and a dining hall for the purpose of preparation of food of both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian nearby the temple. 

It was stated that the devotees of the Deity would normally come to perform their poojas on every Saturdays and Sundays, cook and consume non-vegetarian food outside the temple precincts and this practice has been in vogue since from time immemorial.

Issuing notice on the plea, Justice B M Shyam Prasad said:

“This court is of the view that notice be accepted by the additional government advocate for the respondents no 1 and she is to secure instructions on the circumstances in which this decision is taken and also whether local jurisdiction police has verified the customs prevalent in so far as services offered by the devotees within the precincts of the temple.”

The petitioner trust said that on 18.09.2024 it received the notice issued by the police and they gave their explanation stating that no devotees are indulging in sacrificing animals within the precincts of the temple. The devotees prepare both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in the kitchen attached to the dining hall and consume the same.

It is argued that the police have neither responded nor modified the restriction in the notice. The people of Shivanagere village have also given representations stating that the temple in question is in the middle of the village. It is stated that the temple is surrounded by houses; if the restriction in the notice is strictly followed, then none of the residents can prepare non-vegetarian food and consume the same, even in their houses.

The plea prays for directions to the respondents not to interfere with the age-old custom of the devotees to prepare and consume non-vegetarian food away from the temple.

By way of interim relief it is prayed to stay operation of the notice dated 13/07/2024, issued by the 4th respondent in so far as restricting consumption of non- vegetarian food within the radius of 200m from the Honneshwaraswamy Deity Temple, of Shivanagere Village, Tumakuru district.

The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on September 10.

Case Title: SRI HONNESHWARASWAMY DEVASTHANA JEERNODHARA SEVA SAMITHI TRUST (R) AND State of Karnataka & Others

Appearance: Advocate Akarsh Kumar Gowda for Petitioner.

Case No: WP 25313/2025