<p>The controversy around the vegetarian and no-vegetarian food in Supreme Court premises during the ongoing Navratri season has taken another turn with now a group of lawyers writing a letter 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 the top court’s canteen during the Navratri.</p>
<p>The letter further says that since the top court is now closed for vacations, the issue has outlived its life, but still they want to officially register protests in this regard so that such dissonant incidents do not happen in future.</p>
<p>”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,” the letter read. </p>
<p>Advocate Rajat Nair, in his letter has alleged that the decision was not in line with the bar’s pluralist traditions, and further shows intolerance and lack of respect for each other. The letter registering the protest has been signed by 133 lawyers. </p>
<p>The letter states that the decision to start serving non-vegetarian food was taken without taking into consideration the sentiments of the other members of the bar.</p>
<p>Previously, another 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. Following the controversy, this decision was rolled back on Friday.</p>
<p>”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 navratri festival,” the letter read.</p>
<p>The letter pointed out that the Supreme Court was to function only on Thursday and Friday while the nine-day festival was on. The main canteen of the Supreme Court had decided to serve vegetarian food for these two days. The letter said that no “irreparable harm” 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 Navratri festival. </p>
<p>The letter further said that the other canteens were already serving the normal food (non-veg, prepared with onion and garlic) on their menu.</p>
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