Supreme Court Chief Justice SA Bobde said the court cannot do anything on the issue of renaming India into Bharat by amending the Constitution. Hearing a petition seeking direction to the Centre to amend the Constitution and change the name of the country from India to Bharat, Chief Justice Bobde said “India is already Bharat” in the Constitution.
Refusing to entertain the plea, the court said the petition could be sent to the Centre as a representation. Bench consisting the CJI and Justices AS Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy heard the case. The Bench said: “Why have you come here? India is already called Bharat in the Constitution.”
Appearing for the petitioner, Delhi-based lawyer Ashwin Vaish, said the plea sought amendment to Article 1 of the Constitution. To which, the CJI replied, “We can’t do that.”
Vaish argued that the English name India did not represent the culture and tradition of the country; instead, its origin is Greek, and it is derived from the word ‘Indica’.
The plea claimed that this will ensure citizens of the country to get over the colonial past and instil a sense of pride in the nationality.
The petitioner argued that the time is ripe to recognise the country by its original and authentic name ‘Bharat’, especially when the cities have been renamed in accordance with Indian ethos.
The plea said, “The removal of the English name though appears symbolic, will instil a sense of pride in our nationality, especially for the future generations. In fact, the word India being replaced with Bharat would justify the hard fought freedom achieved by our ancestors.”
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