The Gujarat High Court on Friday (October 30) struck down the prohibition on the sale of non-vegetarian food in the vicinity of the Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Veraval, only to reverse its order within hours and restore the ban imposed by the state government.

About four hours after a single judge of the HC had allowed petitions by six restaurant owners challenging the restrictions, a Division Bench of the court stayed the order, acting on an urgent appeal moved by the government even before the written judgment of the single judge was made available.

The owners of six restaurants, including J M Restaurant, Khwaja Hindustan Restaurant, New Gulab, Kismat Restaurant, and Taj Restaurant, had challenged the restrictions on the sale, storage, distribution, and preparation of non-veg food along designated roads leading to and within a 500-metre radius of the temple.

Around 3 pm, immediately after Justice Nisha M Thakore pronounced the order in open court allowing the petition, the state sought time to…