SC junks 'renaming committee' for places named after 'invaders'
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Activists covering Allahabad railway station sign board with 'Prayagraj' after UP government approved the name change. PTI Photo
New Delhi: Observing that Hinduism is not just a religion but a way of life, the Supreme Court junked a plea, seeking direction to the Centre to form a renaming commission to rename places called after foreign invaders, IANS reported.
A bench comprising Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna told petitioner Adv Ashwini Upadhyay, "Don't dig up the past, which will only create disharmony... Can't have the country on the boil."
The bench also observed that Hinduism has no bigotry.
The bench stressed that India is a secular country, and its past cannot be allowed to haunt the present generation.
"India is a secular country, this is a secular forum. We are supposed to protect the Constitution and all sections," it said.
The bench emphasised that Hinduism is not just a religion but a way of life and said, we have assimilated all cultures. Let's not break it up by such kinds of petitions. Hinduism is a way of life, and there is no bigotry in it. You or this court should not become an instrument to create havoc."
The petitioner sought direction from the Union Home Ministry to set up a "renaming commission" to find out the original names of ancient historical, cultural, and religious places called after "foreign invaders".
Citing the importance of renaming, the plea argued that it is necessary in order to maintain sovereignty and to secure the right to dignity, right to religion and right to culture' guaranteed under Articles 21, 25 and 29 of the Constitution.
The petitioner demanded that the Archaeological Survey of India must do research and publish the initial names of the ancient historical, cultural, and religious places in India.
