LOS ANGELES — Krishna Lunch of Southern California Inc. is suing the University of California Regents, alleging that UCLA has imposed a fee as well as frequency restrictions on the religious organization’s ability to serve veggie lunches that are prohibitive and unconstitutional.

The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit seeks a court order banning the university from enforcing the $500 half-day fee and restrictions of four dates per quarter when holding Krishna Lunch’s planned operations at Bruin Plaza.

“These restrictions are tantamount to a ban on the lunch program,” the suit states. “Plaintiffs cannot afford the $500 fee and the four-day per quarter restriction greatly impairs (Krishna Lunch’s) ability to convey their message to their intended audience.”

A UCLA representative did not reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Tuesday.

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.