Krishna Lunch of Southern California Inc. lost a round in its suit against the UC Regents, which contends that limitations UCLA has imposed on the religious organization’s ability to serve veggie lunches on campus are prohibitive and unconstitutional.
Los Angeles Superior Court Thomas Long denied the organization’s motion for a preliminary injunction barring the university pending trial from enforcing the $500 half-day fee and restrictions of four dates per quarter when Krishna Lunch holds its operations at Bruin Plaza.
The judge heard arguments on Feb. 18, took the case under submission and issued a final ruling on Monday.
“Here, plaintiffs do not allege that they are subject to any unauthorized or unequal restrictions; the same permitting scheme applies to all outside food programs,” the judge wrote.
UCLA’s restrictions are “reasonable” and narrowly drawn to “serve the government interest,” the judge further said while adding that the four-day limitation “prioritizes student and university department use of the space and helps maintain availability for students.”
In their court papers, UC Regents attorneys stated that the Krishna group has operated subject to the four-day-per quarter restriction and $500 daily fee since 2022.
In their suit brought Dec. 10, the group maintains the restrictions are “tantamount to a ban on the lunch program” and say they cannot afford the $500 fee.
The nonprofit wants to resume holding the veggie lunch program twice weekly near the Bruin Bear in the Bruin Plaza to serve their meat-free meals, which have been sanctified in religious ceremonies, the suit states. The group did so near Kerckhoff Hall without being assessed a fee from June to September 2022 and no problems occurred, the suit states.
Bruin Plaza is centrally located on campus and is a popular gathering place for discussion, speech, relaxation, recreation, assembly and other activities, according to the suit, which says Krishna Lunch has stopped all of its activities in light of UCLA’s “threats” regarding the fee and restrictions.
Krishna Lunch believes that a meat-based diet, economy and lifestyle all cause many serious diseases and contribute to environmental catastrophe. A case management conference is scheduled for April 24.