SC junks ‘Bharat, not India’ petition

Directs Centre’s ‘appropriate ministries’ to treat plea as a ‘representation’

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a plea seeking to exclude the name “India” from Article 1 of the Constitution so that the country could be known by its “original and authentic” name, Bharat. But while rejecting the plea, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde directed the Centre’s “appropriate ministries” to treat the petition as a “representation”.

Refusing to entertain the plea by a Delhi resident seeking amendment to Article 1 of the Constitution for dropping India, a bench comprising CJI Bobde, Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said, “We can’t do that. India is already called Bharat in the Constitution.”

Article 1 of the Constitution says, “(1) India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”.

The PIL petitioner, a Delhi resident, had contended that dropping “India” would “ensure citizens of this country get over the colonial past and instil (in them) a sense of pride in our nationality. It will also justify the hardfought freedom by our freedom fighter.”

His lawyer Vaish told the court that in the past similar pleas have been made as the name “India” is of Greek origin and derived from the word “indica”.

As the petitioner sought liberty to make a representation to the government, the court ordered that the “appropriate ministries” in the government will treat Namah’s petition as a representation.

“The present petition is directed to be treated as a representation and may be considered by the appropriate Ministries”, ordered CJI Bobde. After Independence, the Constitution adopted two names, India and Bharat, after much debate.

British India was known as Hindustan, but some members of the Constituent Assembly opposed it. During the debates, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who drafted the Constitution, argued that the country was known worldwide as India and that should be retained. Finally, as a middle path, Article 1(1) of the Constitution said: “India that is Bharat shall be a Union of the States”.

We can’t do that. India is already called Bharat in the Constitution… Petition is directed to be treated as a representation by the appropriate ministries

— CJI S.A. Bobde