In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India moved a petition to rename ‘India as Bharat’ for the Center’s purview.
A PIL filed at the apex court on June 03, 2020, called for reconsidering India as ‘Bharat/Hindustan’.
In response, an SC bench headed by CJI S A Bobde asked how the court would change the name and added that Article 1 of the Constitution already has that calling India or Bharat.
“Bharat and India are both names given in the Constitution. India is already called ‘Bharat’ in the Constitution”, says Chief Justice of India Sharad A Bobde.
But petitioner Namah’s counsel Raj Kishor Choudhary calls for discarding the name ‘India’ owing to its Greek origin as ‘Indica’.
He added that the name Bharat speaks the significance of freedom struggle ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and instills a sense of pride among the country’s citizens.
“India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States. It wants ‘India’ to be struck off from the Article. This will ensure citizens of this country to get over the colonial past and instill a sense of pride in our nationality. Will also justify the hard-fought freedom by our freedom fighters,” reads the petitioner’s recommendation seeking constitutional amendment.
To this, SC asked the petitioner to send it as a representation to the Center.
“The present petition is directed to be treated as a representation and may be considered by the appropriate ministries,” the SC bench said.
Through this decision, SC indicates that the discussion remains, and the petitioner could move to SC again in the future.
In another decision, the bench accepted to consider a proposal to rename Bombay High Court as Maharashtra HC.
SC issued notices to the Center and Maharashtra Government to express their views on the matter.
“The cultural assertion of Maharashtrians remains in jeopardy by not remaining a public institution like the High Court of Bombay,” says advocate Shivaji Jadav.
The Background
A similar petition to ‘rename India as Bharat’ was also raised in 2016.
The then SC bench led by CJI T S Thakur dismissed it, saying that it cannot dictate the decision in this matter, as the Constitution recommends both names to the country.
“If you want to call this country Bharat, go right ahead and call it Bharat. If somebody chooses to call this country India, let him call it India. We will not interfere,” former CJI Thakur had said.
Whatever now the ball is in Center’s court to speak its decision!
