Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 27: Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, holds a special emotional and historical significance for its residents. The recent renaming of the town to Sri Vijaya Puram has sparked a wave of dissent across the islands. Advocate Prohit Mohan Lal, a well-known legal personality and a proud islander, has taken a firm stand against the decision by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the name change in the Calcutta High Court’s Circuit Bench at Port Blair. The PIL has garnered widespread support from the islanders, many of whom feel strongly connected to the original name of the city.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha about today’s court proceedings Advocate Prohit Lal informed that the matter was scheduled for a final order today, where the court referred to a 2024 Supreme Court judgment related to the renaming of a place in Maharashtra. According to this ruling, the power to rename cities lies solely within the executive branch, and the court cannot interfere in such matters. The presiding judge emphasized that the executive authority has the absolute right to make decisions on renaming places and that the judiciary must respect this prerogative.
Advocate Prohit Lal acknowledged the importance of the Supreme Court’s judgment but argued that it does not directly apply to the case of Port Blair. He pointed out that the situation in Maharashtra involved a legislative assembly’s decision, with the necessary cabinet approval and statutory scrutiny. In contrast, the renaming of Port Blair was carried out without following these processes.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Advocate Lal and his legal team made a compelling argument that the renaming process in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands lacked transparency and failed to follow due procedure. The court, in response, advised the petitioners to gather more information about the 2018 committee that proposed the name change and its statutory setup.
Advocate Prohit Lal has decided to temporarily withdraw the PIL to collect additional documents and information as per the court’s suggestion. He explained that they would use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to obtain details about the committee’s proceedings, its statutory powers, and whether it adhered to prescribed rules. Once they have gathered this information, they plan to present it before the court once again.
The lawyer assured that the fight is far from over and that he and his team will continue to challenge the renaming on the grounds of procedural lapses. “We are committed to bringing justice to the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” Lal stated. “The 2018 committee’s proceedings, its statutory setup, and the rules it followed will be thoroughly examined. This issue is not just about a name, but about ensuring that due process is followed in decisions that affect the identity and emotions of the people.”
Advocate Lal also highlighted the broader issue of the limited powers granted to Union Territories (UTs) like Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Indian Constitution. Unlike other Union Territories that have legislative assemblies, Andaman and Nicobar Islands do not have this privilege, and as a result, their representation and say in decision-making processes are severely limited.
“Union Territories like ours have very limited powers. Even those UTs with legislative assemblies have some say, but we are left with almost none,” he said. “This structural flaw needs to be addressed to ensure that the voice of the people is heard, especially in matters that directly affect their identity and heritage.”
