(a) whether the Government proposes to amend Article-I of the Constitution of India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that the Supreme Court has sought response from the Government on a petition seeking a declaration that the Republic be called ‘Bharata’ instead of ‘India’; and
(d) if so, the response of the Government thereto?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI. D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)
(a) & (b) No Madam.
(c) & (d) Yes Madam. The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that Writ Petition (C) No.924 of 2014 was filed by Niranjan Bhatwal in the Supreme Court of India for using the name ‘Bharat’ for all official and unofficial purposes. The said Writ Petition was disposed of by the Supreme Court on 10.11.2014 as withdrawn with liberty to make appropriate representation before the authorities.
Thereafter, the petitioner, through its counsel, sent a notice along with copy of the Writ Petition to the Prime Minister of India for appropriate action. The said representation was examined by the Government and the request was not acceded to. The decision was conveyed to the advocate of the petitioner on 24.2.2015. The petitioner has again approached the Supreme Court by filing another Writ Petition (C) No.203 of 2015. A reply to the said Petition on behalf of Union of India is being finalised for filing it in the Supreme Court.