Lawyers Clash Over Non-Veg Food at Supreme Court Canteen During Navratri

New Delhi: A major controversy has surfaced in the Supreme Court following protests by a group of lawyers against the resumption of non-vegetarian food service in the court’s canteen during the Navratri festival. Navratri, a nine-day Hindu festival, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga.

Senior advocate Rajat Nair, in a letter addressed to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), raised objections, claiming the move was made “without considering the sentiments of other bar members.” He stated that the decision disregarded the bar’s “pluralist traditions,” showing intolerance and disrespect towards differing views.

The letter, which has gained the support of at least 133 practising lawyers, criticised the reinstatement of non-vegetarian food, emphasising the cultural sensitivity of Navratri.

This protest follows an earlier demonstration by another section of lawyers who opposed the ban on non-veg food during the festival. They had argued that the decision to restrict the canteen to only Navratri food was “unprecedented” and could set a harmful precedent for the future. Following their outcry, the canteen resumed serving non-vegetarian dishes on October 1.