New Delhi: After facing criticism from the public and on social media, the Koraput district administration has withdrawn an earlier order that prohibited the sale of non-vegetarian food items, including meat and eggs, on Republic Day.
Officials said the decision to revoke the directive was taken after it became clear that the order had been issued without proper scrutiny. With the withdrawal, the brief restriction imposed ahead of January 26 has come to an end, allowing the sale of non-vegetarian food across the district.
Order revoked with immediate effect
“In continuation of this Collectorate Letter No. 93, dated-23.01.2026 regarding prohibition on sale of Meat, Chicken, Fish, Egg and other non- vegetarian food items on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day Celebration, 2026 in Koraput District, and whereas the said instruction was issued purely on the suggestion of the District Level Republic Day Preparatory Committee. Now, after due consideration, the aforesaid Letter No. 93 dated 23.01.2026 is hereby revoked with immediate effect,” the order read.
What the original directive said
In the earlier order, Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan had directed all tehsildars, block development officers and executive officers to issue notifications banning the sale of meat, chicken, fish, eggs and other non-vegetarian items on January 26, marking the Republic Day celebrations.
However, the order did not clearly explain the rationale behind the ban. It was also unclear whether the restriction applied only to retail sales or extended to hotels, eateries and restaurants across the district.
Backlash and administration’s defence
Soon after the directive surfaced online, it triggered sharp reactions on social media, with many users questioning how the administration could regulate citizens’ food choices on a national holiday.
Responding to the criticism earlier, Mahajan had said the decision was taken following discussions during a preparedness meeting. “The administration has taken this decision in response to public demand,” he said.
According to officials, during a meeting held on January 7, public representatives and other participants had unanimously resolved that the sale of non-vegetarian food should be prohibited on Republic Day to preserve the sanctity of the occasion and uphold Gandhian ideals.