India or Bharat? Here is what SC had to say on renaming in 2020
India as 'Bharat' is not something that has come out of the blue. While there are speculations surrounding that the Narendra Modi-led government is likely to bring a resolution for changing India's official name to 'Bharat' during the special session of Parliament, scheduled from September 18-22.
Back in 2020, a plea was filed by a Delhi-based man before the apex court, where he claimed that such an amendment will «ensure the citizens of this country to get over the colonial past».
The Supreme Court of India had asked the centre to treat the plea, which sought a direction to amend the Constitution and replace the word India with 'Bharat' or 'Hindustan', as a representation.
It contended that replacing the word India with 'Bharat' or 'Hindustan' will «instill a sense of pride in our own nationality.»
Supreme Court's remarks from 2020
India is already called 'Bharat' in the Constitution itself, the bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, told the counsel appearing for the petitioner.
«Why have you come here?,» the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, asked the petitioner's counsel, PTI reported in 2020.
The plea has sought to amend Article 1 of the Constitution, which deals with name and territory of the Union, the counsel said.
He urged the apex court that he should be allowed to make a representation in this regard to the concerned authority.
After hearing the submissions, the bench remarked that the petition should be treated as a representation by the concerned authority.
The plea has sought to amend Article 1 of the Constitution to the effect that the same refers to the country as Bharat/Hindustan, to the exclusion of India.
Also read: This is what Article 1 of Constitution says about our
