Bombay High Court Upholds Maharashtra Government’s Decision to Rename Aurangabad and Osmanabad

In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has upheld the Maharashtra government’s decision to rename Aurangabad district as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv, dismissing petitions challenging the move.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor asserted that the notification issued by the state government did not exhibit any legal irregularities, warranting no interference from the court. The bench unequivocally stated, “We have no hesitation to hold that the notification issued by the state government renaming Aurangabad and Osmanabad does not suffer from any illegality or any legal vice.”

The high court deemed the petitions devoid of merit, consequently dismissing them.

The Maharashtra cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, had approved the renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv in 2022. Following this decision, a Government Resolution was passed and forwarded to the central government. In February 2023, the Union Home Ministry granted a no objection letter for the name changes, leading to the issuance of a gazette notification by the state government.

Despite the government’s assertion that the renaming was rooted in historical significance rather than political motives, several petitions were filed against the decision. Residents of Aurangabad and Osmanabad contested the move, labeling it as politically motivated.

However, the court’s ruling affirms the government’s stance, emphasizing the historical context behind the renaming of the two places. The decision underscores the complexities surrounding historical nomenclature and the state’s prerogative to reflect cultural heritage through place names.

With the dismissal of these petitions, the Maharashtra government’s initiative to honor the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji and Dharashiv by renaming Aurangabad and Osmanabad respectively stands affirmed by the judicial authority.

 If you like this law news, share it with a friend!