Will Withdraw Notice Banning Eating Of Non-Veg Food Around Sri Honneshwara Deity Temple: State Tells Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka government informed the High Court on Wednesday that it  "will withdraw notice" a notice issued by the concerned jurisdictional police stipulating not to sacrifice animals and consume non-vegetarian food around the precincts of Sri Honneshwara Deity temple located in Shivanagere Village in Tumakuru district.

The state government said that it would issue a fresh notice within a week, "limiting it only to sacrifice of animals". 

Justice B M Shyam Prasad accordingly disposed of a petition filed by the Honneshwaraswamy Devasthana Jeernodhara Seva Samithi Trust (R) had challenged the notice issued to it by the police dated July 13, 2024 stipulating that no one should sacrifice or consume meat for an area around 200 meters from the temple.

The notice had said those who violate this stipulation will have to face penal consequences.

Today the government counsel informed the court “We will issue a fresh notice today itself to indicate that there is only a prohibition in respect of animal sacrifice within the temple precincts and there is no restriction in respect of consumption.”

The police had while issuing the impugned notice referred to orders of high court in WP 18124/2023.

On this the court said “The direction is not adjudication on any dispute but to consider petitioner's representation in the light of the stand taken on behalf of the state that it will be considered the representation in accordance with law.”

On the previous hearing the court had while issuing notice to the state government that “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 counsel for petitioners had 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.

The plea prayed 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 high court also said “It is trite that neither provisions of Karnataka Prevention of Animals Of Sacrifice Act, nor Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, prohibit consumption of meat...Even if there is to be any restriction it has to be only based on local practises that have been. In light of the above court is inclined to dispose of the petition, taking on record that order will be withdrawn and fresh order will be issued within one week from today...”

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

Case No: WP 25313/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 301

Appearance: Advocate Akarsh Kumar Gowda for Petitioner.