‘Afzal Khan no Tekro’ to ‘Shivaji no Tekro’; Sunni Waqf Objects: Gujarat HC directs Corporation to decide

In a petition where Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's proposal was sought to be declared as illegal and unconstitutional, a bench of Justice Sandeep N Bhatt, referred back the matter to the Corporation.

The bench considered a pending representation before the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, where the Corporation's proposal to change the name of a residential locality from "Afzal Khan no Tekro" to "Shivaji no Tekro", was challenged. The petitioner in the present matter is Ahmedabad Sunni Muslim Waqf Committee, who had submitted that the land in question belonged to waqf. And further made claims that the area has been in existence since 400-500 years. 

The petitioner had prayed inter alia that the agenda in question should be quashed and set aside while declaring it as illegal, unconstitutional, without jurisdiction and in violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioner.

The Bench was of the opinion that "if the said representation is decided by the Corporation after considering overall aspects of the matter then the issue involved in the present petition may be redressed". And further directed the Corporation to decided the matter expeditiously, preferably within a week.

 

As per reports, the matter surrounds a controversy, where it is alleged that Chhattrapatri Shivaji Maharaj had killed Afzal Khan. But whether the name in question is the same Afzal Khan or not, has not been established.  

Case Title: Ahmedabad Sunni Muslim Waqf Committee vs. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation