HC seeks Centre’s reply on PIL against renaming Aurangzeb Road

The Delhi High Court today sought <g data-gr-id="22">response</g> from the Centre on a PIL seeking to restrain civic body NDMC from renaming Aurangzeb Road after APJ Abdul Kalam.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain to apprise it whether any guidelines are to be followed for renaming roads.

“We only need information with regard to any guidelines mandatory for such changes. File affidavit before September 22,” the bench said, while clarifying that it is not issuing any notice. The court sought the response after the ASG contended that the guidelines are advisory but not mandatory for renaming a road.

The ASG further said, “In the present issue the change in <g data-gr-id="21">name</g> of the road is done keeping in mind the national figure. NDMC has unlimited power to make such changes.” 

During the hearing, the court posed a query to petitioner advocate Shahid Ali, who had alleged that the decision was the outcome of “sick and communal politics” and “lacks understanding of history”.

The petitioner, assisted by advocate Wasim Alam, said in the plea, “NDMC in utter violation of law and procedure, instead of naming a new road in memory of late APJ Abdul Kalam has renamed <g data-gr-id="25">an historical</g> road known as Aurangzeb Road to be known as APJ Abdul Kalam Road.

“Pertinently, the guidelines for naming/renaming of roads, streets, villages, towns and installation of statues/memorials to be followed by State Names Authority, Delhi, provide that the name of existing streets, road etc will normally not be changed. Only new streets, roads etc will be considered for being named after eminent personalities.