Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
Tuesday the Supreme Court adjourned its hearing on a petition seeking to change the country's name from 'India' to 'Bharat.' No subsequent date yet given
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court adjourned its hearing on a petition seeking to change the country's name from 'India' to 'Bharat,' with no next date being given. India's Chief Justice SA Bobde, who had been scheduled to hear the case, was on leave on Tuesday, and hence the top court adjourned the matter.
A person named Namah filed the PIL. In this plea, the petitioner — Namah — sought to enforce the fundamental rights laid down in Article 21 of the Constitution that entitles every citizen to call his or her own country 'Bharat.'
In addition, he argued that the government of the Union had failed to end the symbol of slavery by using the name 'India' instead of Bharat or Hindustan. He has also pointed out the many pleas seeking the same and the inaction of the government to do so, justifying his reason for approaching the apex court.
In March 2016, a petition seeking renaming India as Bharat had been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Reacting to the absurdity of the plea, Justice Bench TS Thakur and UU Lalit had asked, "Do you think that we have no other job but to deal with emotional issues?."It also cautioned the petitioner-Niranjan Bhatwal, a social activist based in Maharashtra who said, "Help the poor through the jurisdiction of the PIL. Do so if you want to call it Bharat. No one stops you."
Before this order, in April 2016, a SC bench led by then Chief Justice HL Dattu had sought answers from the Centre, States and Union Territories on the PIL of Bhatwal.Bhatwal had asserted that Bharat was initially created by the Constituent Assembly and adopted as the official name. He had sought clarification on the phrase used in Article 1 of the Indian Constitution-" India, that is, Bharat shall be a Union of States.
He said that 'India' is not a literal translation of the word 'Bharata' in his petition. Besides the country, it is known as 'Bharata' as per reports, both historically and in the Scriptures. He also stated that with the phrase 'India, that is to say Bharat, will be a Union of States,' codified the name of Bharat for the Republic of India.' The petitioner reportedly moved the Supreme Court after receiving no response from the Centre on the matter.
86540
103860
630
114
59824