IIT-Bombay students oppose non-veg food ban at campus eatery

The institute released a statement saying that the decision was taken to avoid fire hazards at the cafe

The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has received flak from the student community over its recent decision to ban non-vegetarian food at a popular eatery, Civil Café, on the campus.

The institute’s civil department issued a notice, which outlines a list of 15 ‘dos and dont’s’ to the caterers of the cafe in the last week of January. (HT File)

The institute’s civil department issued a notice, which outlines a list of 15 ‘dos and dont’s’ to the caterers of the cafe in the last week of January.

The institute released a statement saying that the decision was taken to avoid fire hazards at the cafe.

However, students have alleged that it is an attempt by the management to impose the food culture of a small section of people on the entire student body.

“Non-vegetarian items are strictly banned and should not be served; lunch services are not permitted and the list of veg items on the menu will be reviewed by the food committee,” reads the notice.

The notice also states that no cooking is allowed in the area allotted to the café as it is set-up in the academic section.

Civil Café is popular among students as it has an adjoining terrace.

Soumyo Mukherji, Dean of Student Affairs, said, “Since cooking is not allowed in the café, food that is cooked in the morning is served by the caterers all day, which has led many students to complain about upset stomachs.”

Apart from this cafe, non-veg food is sold throughout the campus, he said.

“Besides, two out of the three faculty members who signed this notice are non-vegetarians, so there’s no reason to believe there is any form of bias against non-vegetarian eaters,” he added.

Students are planning to write a letter to the civil department as well as to the Dean of Student Affairs.

“If this issue is not resolved soon, we are planning to start a signature campaign against the new rules,” said a student.

The order comes less than a month after one of the institute’s hostels asked students to use separate tables and plates for non-vegetarian and vegetarian food items at the hostel mess, after receiving complaints from some vegetarian students.