Supreme Court lawyers register protest against resumption of non-veg food in canteen during Navratri festival

A group of lawyers have written to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) against the decision to resume serving of non-vegetarian food at a Supreme Court canteen during the Navratra festival.

In the letter to the top court's bar bodies by advocate Rajat Nair, it has been alleged that decision was taken "without taking into consideration the sentiments of the other members of the bar".

The decision was not in line with the bar's "pluralist traditions", shows intolerance and “lack of respect for each other”, the letter stated.

According to the email, at least 133 lawyers practicing at the top court endorsed the protest communication.

A group of Supreme Court lawyers had earlier raised concerns over the decision of the Supreme Court canteen to restrict its menu to only Navratra food during the nine-day festival.

The decision was rolled back on Friday.

In the letter against the rollback, Nair said the decision to resume service of non-vegetarian food items on Friday apparently happened "on the direction of the office bearers of the SCBA".

"I am writing to you, to formally register our strong protest to the unilateral action taken by SCBA and SCORA pursuant to the letter dated 3.10.2024 written by few respected members of our Bar in respect of serving of non-veg foods and food items containing onion/garlic during navratra festival," the letter said.

Nair explained that the top court was to function only on Thursday and Friday during the week of Navratras and therefore, the main canteen had been requested to have Navratra food for these two days.

"No irreparable harm or loss would have happened if, for two days only, one out of 6-7 canteens, functioning in the Supreme Court premises, was allowed to serve Navratri food to the members of the Bar who were religiously observing the Navratra festival. Moreso, when the other canteens were already serving the normal food on their menu list having non-veg food and food containing onion, garlic etc," Nair said in the letter.

The letter acknowledges that since the top court is now closed for vacations, the issue has outlived its life.

"However, the aforesaid act of taking unilateral action by office bearers of SCBA/SCORA without consulting the remaining members of bar or taking into consideration their sentiments has compelled me write to your goodself to officially register our protest in this regard so that such dissonant incidents do not happen in future," it adds.

[Read Letter]