KGMU prohibits non-veg food in hostel messes after Governor flags lapses, Doctors raise concerns over dietary autonomy

Lucknow: Through an official notice, King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow has prohibited the cooking and serving of non-vegetarian food items in the messes and canteens of all its hostels.

The directive was issued by the Office of the Chief Provost through an official order dated July 15, 2026. According to the order, the decision has been taken following verbal instructions from the Vice-Chancellor of the university.

The order has been addressed to all hostel provosts, asking them to ensure that no non-vegetarian food is either cooked or served in hostel messes and canteens.

To address the nutritional needs of students, the university has instructed hostel authorities to ensure that adequate protein is provided through vegetarian sources. The order states that appropriate vegetarian protein options should be included in students' meals to maintain a balanced diet.

It also directed the authorities to implement the decision with immediate effect.

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel visited KGMU to attend its convocation ceremony. Concluding her address at the event, she specifically pointed out that she had come to know that non-veg food items were being prepared at three hostels on the campus.

KGMU officials told PTI that though hostel messes don't provide non-vegetarian meals, the university will check the preparation of such items by students on the campus or at hostels.

"Non-vegetarian food is not prepared in KGMU. Tenders are floated for mess services on the campus and in hostels. The menu is fixed and does not include non-vegetarian items," an official said, requesting anonymity.

A KGMU official said even egg preparations are not part of the official hostel mess menu, and something that not all on campus agree with.

"Aren't we a medical university? Should doctors also stop recommending egg to patients who don't have problems eating it. Aren't we imposing dietary restrictions and food habits while disregarding the preferences of students who represent all India," a senior faculty member questioned.

When contacted, KGMU spokesperson Dr Kumar Shantanu told PTI that KGMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Soniya Nityanand has set up a task force under the pro V-C to address the issues flagged by the Governor.

"Non-vegetarian food is neither cooked nor served in the 18 messes run by KGMU administration. There are two or three private messes, which are run by a cluster of students on co-operative basis where non-veg food items was prepared. However, after the Governor's remarks, a strict advisory has been issued to them to avoid cooking non-veg items," Shantanu said.

The official, however, clarified that there will not be any restriction on students and hostel boarders from ordering non-veg items from outside.

On June 15, during the third convocation of Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) here, Governor Patel had reportedly questioned the need to serve non-vegetarian items twice a week in the hostel mess.

When contacted for a response, RMLIMS officials said that though undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) hostels currently provide non-vegetarian food twice weekly, the same was decided by largely student-driven committees.

"The committees have few faculty representatives, but are largely student-driven," an official said to emphasise that the institute doesn't decide the mess menu.

However, RMLIMS officials indicated that the institute, which has three hostels for nearly 800 UG and PG students, will soon consider the issue afresh.

"The matter has been flagged by the chancellor, and hence it will be discussed on a priority," an official said.

Media Co-in-charge, KGMU, Dr Kumar Shantanu, told ANI, “Approximately 18 messes are operating on the KGMU campus. The Governor received information that non-vegetarian food was being cooked and served there. The Vice-Chancellor took immediate cognisance of this matter...regarding the messes directly managed by KGMU, it is absolutely clear that non-vegetarian food has never been cooked or served there. When the issue was raised based on the information the Governor shared, it was clarified that the non-vegetarian food was being prepared in private or cooperative messes run by the students themselves. Following the Governor's remarks, strict instructions have been issued prohibiting the preparation of non-vegetarian food in those messes, effective immediately…if any violation is found hereafter, strict action will definitely be taken.”

KGMU spokesperson Prem Raj Singh told IANS, "As you know, during our 22nd convocation ceremony, the Governor had raised the issue of non-vegetarian food. Places where non-vegetarian food is prepared are often not maintained properly in terms of cleanliness. Therefore, I would like to clarify the situation at our university. Non-vegetarian food has never been prepared in any of our 22 messes. However, some students run their own cooperative messes, where they arrange for food to be prepared from outside, including non-vegetarian meals. Those students have now been informed that no non-vegetarian food will be allowed on the college campus."

Reaction from doctors

Reacting to the incident, FAIMA Co-Chairman Dr Swapnil Kendre told Medical Dialogues, "The decision conflates the vital need for institutional hygiene with the imposition of personal dietary restrictions on medical students. I support the Governor’s push for better food safety, higher sanitation standards, and the immediate rectification of serious lapses like the use of expired ingredients; we believe these issues should be addressed through rigorous professional audits, modern infrastructure, and stricter administrative oversight of catering contracts rather than through the blanket prohibition of specific food categories. However, medical students and resident doctors, who endure immense academic and clinical pressure, should be treated as professional adults; stripping them of their dietary autonomy in institutional facilities—even if external options remain—sets a concerning precedent that prioritizes performative measures over substantive improvements in student welfare."

Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, health activist and former AIMSA vice president, told Medical Dialogues, "Doctors dedicate themselves to caring for patients, often working exhausting 36–36-hour shifts under immense physical and mental pressure. After such demanding duties, they should have the freedom to choose what they eat without being judged or dictated to. Personal dietary choices are a matter of individual liberty and should be respected, as long as they do not affect patient care or professional responsibilities. Respecting doctors also means respecting their personal choices outside their professional duties.

Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) National Spokesperson Dr Dhruv Chauhan criticised the decision in a post on X.

He wrote, "73% Indians are protein deficient according to a survey, but that shouldn’t be a concern for us; rather, we should ban non-veg food, including eggs, in one of India’s top ranked Medical institution KGMU, Lucknow, because a politician thinks that it brings hygiene issues."

Expressing his disagreement despite being a vegetarian himself, Dr Chauhan added, "It stunned me even though I am myself a vegetarian, but why would you restrict someone’s food choice? That too, an essential meal for protein like eggs."

Another doctor said in a post on X, "Who eats what!... What to drink too! Now the government will decide even that...where there is considerable anger among students."

"What is their job doesn't get done by them, and they have to decide what people will eat. How many useless and foolish people there are?" another doctors said.

Also read- KGMU issues guidelines for 22nd convocation ceremony scheduled for July 13