‘Why not it be called Dr Ambedkar Nagar’

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad before whom the plea challenging the rejection order came up, said, "When there are Nagars with names as Periyar Nagar, Kamarajar Nagar, Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar and J Jayalalithaa Nagar and other names, we are unable to deduce the reason as to why change of a street name which reflects the activity by those involved in the name of the head of the framers of the Constitution of India can cause a problem."

Senior Counsel S Silambannan appearing for the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Vellore, submitted that to change the name of Scavengers Colony, Ward No. 55 in Vellore Corporation to Dr. B R Ambedkar Nagar, a resolution was passed by the Vellore Corporation, after ascertaining that the area is inhabited by those people belonging to the oppressed class.

“But the issue as to whether the petitioner has any right and has a legitimate expectation to name a place in any specific name is one aspect to be considered vis-a-vis the reasons assigned in rejecting the proposal of Vellore Corporation,” the senior counsel submitted.

However, the bench on noting that recently the Central Railway Station in Chennai has been renamed by the Centre and that the Tamil Nadu government had given implicit consent for the same, said, "Dr B R Ambedkar is not a stranger to the Constitution of India and prima facie, reasons assigned by the Secretary to the Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, that change of name would create a problem, cannot be sustained." "Therefore, we direct the said Secretary to revisit the same and accordingly report," the bench held and posted the case to June 13.

Also, recording the submission made by I Abraham, counsel for the petitioner that the government has changed the name of Long Bazar in Vellore Corporation to Kirubanda Variyar Salai and Officers Line to Anna Salai, the bench directed the counsel appearing for the Corporation and Additional Government Pleader E Manoharan to ascertain the said facts.

The Madras High Court has been informed that instructions have been issued to stop mining activity at a site in Ariyalur district, which has been found to be located at a distance of 8.3 km from the Karaivetti bird sanctuary.

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad, on whose direction the distance between the mining site and the bird sanctuary was ascertained, was informed that appropriate decision would be taken regarding the mining site based on the clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBW).

Objecting to the mining activity progressing within the prohibited distance from the bird sanctuary, the petitioner’s counsel, A Yogeshwaran, had submitted that environmental clearance is subject to their obtaining clearance from the Forest department-including clearance from the standing committee of the NBW for wildlife as applicable, and therefore there must be specific approval from NBW if Karaivetti bird sanctuary is located within 10 km from the mining site.

However, in a bid to resolve a controversy as to whether the bird sanctuary is within 10 km distance from the mining site, the Madras High Court in its earlier order had directed the Chief Wildlife Warden, Forest Department, Tamil Nadu, to measure the distance between the quarrying site and the bird sanctuary. Based on this direction, the present submission has been made that the mining is well within the prohibited distance, making it mandatory as per the provisions for obtaining clearance from NBW.

The bench in its earlier order had also directed to verify as to whether the draft notification dated September 14, 2006 has been finalised. The plea has been posted to July 2 for further hearing.