Caste references should be removed from residential colonies: HC

A division bench comprising Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad made the observation while hearing a plea which sought to change the name of ‘Thoti Lane’ known as Scavengers Colony, Kaspa Vellore as Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Kaspa Vellore. The Vellore Corporation had rejected the plea on the basis that such a name change could cause problems.

Recording the submission made by Additional Government Pleader (AGP) E Manoharan that as directed by the court, the State government was revisiting the issue and had called for the files from Vellore Corporation, the bench said, “At this juncture, we wish to state that earlier the government had considered the mandate in GO Ms. No. 1531, Rural Development and Local Administration, dated October 3, 1978, which states that wherever there is a reference to a caste in the name of roads and streets, the same has to be removed. We are of the view that the same applies to nagars and residential colonies.”

The bench in its earlier order had directed the Secretary to the Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, to consider changing the name of ‘Thoti Lane’. It had then pointed out that, “When there are areas like Periyar Nagar, Kamarajar Nagar, Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar and J Jayalalithaa Nagar, we are unable to deduce the reason as to why the change of a street name which reflects the activity of those involved in the name of Dr Ambedkar can cause a problem.”

Directing the AGP to communicate the above observation with regard to the 1978 GO to the State government, the bench then posted the petition to June 27 for further hearing.