The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on what basis it had decided to rename Aurangzeb Road in Lutyens’ Delhi after former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Hearing a public interest litigation petition, which has challenged the NDMC’s controversial decision, a Division Bench of the High Court said it needed information with regard to the guidelines mandatory for such a change. The Bench asked the municipal body to apprise the court of the procedure followed.
Petitioner Shahid Ali, a lawyer, alleged that the NDMC’s move was guided by “communal politics” and smacked of a lack of understanding of history.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath, while clarifying that it was not issuing notices, asked the NDMC to file its response by September 22.
Additional Solicitor-General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the NDMC, said that while the guidelines for renaming of roads were advisory rather than being mandatory, the change of name was carried out in this case keeping in mind a public icon. He affirmed that the NDMC had “unfettered powers” to make such changes.
Mr. Jain said this was not the first time that any road had been renamed in the capitalThe petition contended that the alteration of historical names should not be allowed in a country known for its unity in diversity.
