The nine-day Navratri festival has begun, and in light of this, the Supreme Court canteen has introduced a special Navratri menu, sparking controversy. A group of Supreme Court lawyers have voiced their displeasure and concerns over the canteen's decision, which states that only food without garlic and onion will be served for the nine days of Navratri. The menu excludes non-vegetarian dishes, onions, garlic, pulses, and grains-based foods.

Upset by the decision, lawyers have written to the presidents of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), urging them to reverse the decision. According to the letter, while lawyers have regularly observed Navratri by bringing their own special food from home without issue, this is the first time the canteen has exclusively offered a Navratri menu. They argue that this unprecedented move sets a problematic precedent for the future.

In their letter, the lawyers emphasized that they respect their colleagues' observance of Navratri but feel it should not be imposed on those who rely on the canteen for daily meals. They warned that such restrictions could pave the way for more in the future, and stressed that the exclusion of non-vegetarian or onion-garlic dishes to accommodate a few goes against India's pluralistic values.

The lawyers urged SCBA and SCAORA to intervene and request the canteen to reinstate its regular menu, while also offering the Navratri menu as an option for those observing the festival. They clarified that they have no objection to offering a special Navratri menu but are disheartened that the regular menu is unavailable during the festival.