Telangana High Court Mandates 100-Meter Buffer for Non-Vegetarian Food Near Religious Sites
In a significant ruling, the Telangana High Court has ordered the state government to formulate a comprehensive policy within four weeks to regulate the sale and consumption of meat and non-vegetarian food within 100 meters of places of worship, educational institutions, and hospitals. This directive comes amid a contentious legal battle involving a restaurant in Hyderabad's Red Hills area.
Court Order and Background
The order was issued by a single-judge bench of Justice B Vijaysen Reddy on December 22, 2025, but was only made public recently. The court was hearing a petition filed by a 24-year-old businessman from Solapur, Maharashtra, who alleged harassment by civic authorities over his planned restaurant, NRI Live Kitchen, near a Hanuman temple.
The petitioner claimed that despite obtaining a trade license and food safety registration from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and local police were illegally interfering with his business. He cited an incident where a worker was detained based on a complaint about the upcoming restaurant, referencing a previous high court judgment that denied permission to a non-vegetarian restaurant near the same temple.
Arguments from Both Sides
Authorities argued that the restaurant's location, less than 100 meters from the 100-year-old Hanuman Temple, could hurt religious sentiments and create law and order or traffic issues. They submitted photographs showing a live kitchen counter (kabab centre) already installed, contradicting the petitioner's claim that he would only run a snack and tea shop.
However, the court noted the absence of any specific statutory rule under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act prohibiting such sales near places of worship. Justice Reddy observed, "Apart from the religious sentiments, it is also necessary to maintain serenity of the temple and hygiene in the temple surroundings."
Key Directives from the Court
The court disposed of the petition but issued several crucial directives:
- The state government must frame guidelines strictly regulating non-vegetarian food establishments within 100 meters of hospitals, schools, or places of worship.
- The policy should consider religious sentiments, serenity, hygiene, law and order, and traffic issues.
- A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local police station is mandated as a key requirement before setting up such establishments.
- The principal secretary of the municipal administration and urban development department must complete the framing of guidelines within four weeks.
Pending the formulation of these guidelines, the court ordered status quo to be maintained regarding the restaurant in Red Hills. This ruling highlights the ongoing tension between business interests and cultural sensitivities in urban India, setting a precedent for similar cases across the country.
