Following intense public backlash, the Koraput Collector on Sunday withdrew a controversial order issued two days ago that had prohibited the sale of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and other non-vegetarian products on the occasion of Republic Day.
In a letter issued dated January 23, Koraput Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan had instructed all tahsildars, block development officers (BDOs), and municipal executive officers to enforce a district-wide ban on the sale of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, etc and other non-vegetarian food items on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day Celebration, 2026 in the district.
Reversing the decision in a fresh order issued on Sunday, the Collector clarified that the initial prohibition had been issued based solely on suggestions from the district-level Republic Day preparatory committee.
“Now, after due consideration, the aforesaid letter is hereby revoked with immediate effect,” it said.
While the official order did not explicitly detail the reasons for the sudden reversal of the order, sources said the administration chose to backtrack after facing significant public outrage throughout the district.
Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka, who had criticised the non-veg ban order of the district administration, on Sunday, wrote on X, “The arbitrary and unconstitutional order has now been rescinded. Constitutional freedoms cannot be suspended at will, especially in a diverse, tribal district like #Koraput. Republic Day is about liberty, not coercion. Jai Johar, Jai Koraput, Jai Hind.”
