Itanagar eateries told to drop meat references from names

Hotels and restaurants in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, have been asked to rename their establishments by dropping any reference to specific animal meats, including pork, beef, chicken, and mutton.

The Tuesday (March 31, 2026) order from the Itanagar Municipal Corporation also states that no new trade licences will be issued for eateries with names that refer to any meat type.

The order, signed by IMC Joint Commissioner Datum Gadi, notes that several establishments have been obtaining trade licences using “business nomenclature specifically referring to particular animal meats”.

It states that such naming practices have been deemed inappropriate and inconsistent with prevailing norms regarding animal welfare sensitivities and public decency.

The IMC invoked provisions under the Arunachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 2019, ordering that the existing “trade licences issued to hotels and restaurants bearing nomenclature referring to specific animal types shall be suitably renamed to a general and appropriate business nomenclature.”

All owners of such hotels and restaurants have been asked to update their signboards and promotional materials in accordance with the revised nomenclature guidelines within 10 days from March 31, 2026, failing which legal action may be taken under relevant laws and municipal by laws.

“This office shall henceforth refrain from issuing trade licenses with nomenclature referring to specific animal names,” the order said, tagging key administrative officials for necessary action and monitoring.