The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice in response to a petition filed by Delhi resident Namaha, seeking an amendment to the Constitution to replace the term ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ or ‘Hindustan,’ aiming to remove colonial influences.
A bench led by Justice Sachin Datta granted the government time to obtain instructions and scheduled the next hearing for March 12, 2025.
The petitioner had previously approached the Supreme Court with a similar request, urging the Centre to amend the Constitution. In 2020, the apex court directed that the plea be treated as a representation and considered by the relevant ministries. However, after receiving no response, Namaha moved the High Court.
The plea specifically seeks an amendment to Article 1 of the Constitution, which currently describes the country as “India, that is Bharat.” It proposes modifying the provision to officially recognize the nation as Bharat or Hindustan, emphasizing its historical and cultural identity.
Citing the 1948 Constituent Assembly debates, the petition highlights the strong demand at the time to name the country ‘Bharat’ or ‘Hindustan.’ It argues that the current era presents an opportune moment for such a change, particularly as several Indian cities have been renamed to reflect their historical and cultural heritage.
Representation in Court:
- For Petitioner: Senior Advocate Sanjeev Sagar with Advocates Ashutosh Thakur and Aabhas Parmal
- For Respondent: Standing Counsel Nidhi Raman, Government Pleader Arnav Mittal, along with Advocates Zubin Singh, Sandeep Kumar Mahapatra, Sugam Kumar Jha, Tribhuvan, Raghav Tandon, Mahesh Baluni, and Pramod Gupta
Case Title: Namaha v. Union of India (W.P.(C) 1433/2025)
