Bombay High Court upholds renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad Districts

Aurangabad and Osmanabad Districts will be called ‘Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’ and ‘Dharashiv’ respectively

Credits : Legally Speaking

Mumbai – The State Government had decided to change the names of District Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and District Osmanabad to Dharashiv. This was also approved by the Union Government. A few people from these Districts challenged the decisions in the High Court. The petition on this issue was heard before the bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Arif Doctor till 4th October 2023, but the verdict was not declared. On 8th May 2024, the decision was declared which has given a big relief to the Government on this dispute. Mumbai High Court has dismissed the petition filed in this context, including all other petitions filed on the same issue.

State Government’s decision has not violated any law

The decision to change the names is not against any law; therefore, it would not affect anyone, stated the Court while dismissing petitions. The Court did not levy fine against any of the petitioners. The change of name of District Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has been long pending. The former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s Government had approved the change of names of the Districts Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv. However, the subsequent Shinde-Fadnavis Government made a fresh decision to rename and change it to ‘Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’ which was also approved by the Union Government.

History of change of name

In 1997, the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition Government decided to change the name of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar. A notification was issued on completing all legal formalities in this matter, but it was challenged in the Court. The matter was also taken to the Supreme Court. In 1999, after the change of power, the then Vilasrao Deshmukh Government withdrew the notification for change of name; therefore, despite deciding on the change of name, it remained pending for 25 years.

Ahmednagar District’s name to be changed

The State Government has decided to change the name of District Ahmednagar to ‘Ahilyadevinagar’ and sent this recommendation to the Union Government. Dy CM Devendra Fadanvis declared in a rally at Ahmednagar that the District’s name would be changed to ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevinagar’ after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return to power.

Editorial Perspectives

• A commendable decision of the Bombay High Court.

• Having names of Islamic invaders to villages, cities or roads is a sign of slavery. The Court has passed a verdict in favour of removing the names of Islamic invaders, who attacked India, massacred Hindus, raped Hindu women, destroyed temples, etc. It is a hard blow to pro-Mughals.