Delhi High Court Disposes Plea To Rename India As Bharat

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to rename India as Bharat. Justice Sachin Dutta’s bench directed the petitioner to file a representation with the Home Ministry for further consideration.

The court also instructed the Home Ministry to decide on the matter promptly.

Home Ministry Asked To Decide

During the hearing, the Central Government’s lawyer informed the court that the petitioner had not made the Home Ministry a party.

Since the decision falls under the Home Ministry’s jurisdiction, the court advised the petitioner to approach the ministry directly.

The petition sought to amend the Constitution and replace the term India with Bharat or Hindustan. It argued that the name India does not reflect the country’s culture and traditions.

According to the petitioner, renaming the country as Bharat would help shed the colonial legacy and reconnect with the nation’s historical identity.

Petitioner Claims Delay Since 2020

The petitioner, Namaha, claimed that the issue has been pending since 2020. The Supreme Court had earlier refused to entertain a similar plea but directed that it be treated as a representation.

After waiting for over a year, the petitioner filed an application under the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2021.

The response revealed that the matter had been assigned to then Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj on June 3, 2020. The application was reportedly forwarded to the CPIO of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The petitioner alleged that despite repeated follow-ups, no department of the Union of India has acted on the representation.

The petition asserted that Article 21 of the Constitution gives citizens the equal right to refer to their country as India or Bharat.

The court’s decision leaves the final resolution in the hands of the Home Ministry.

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