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WB counsel told HC since two lions have been brought in from Tripura and naming was done there, concerned authority of West Bengal is contemplating to rename these two lions
The Calcutta High Court has questioned the rationale behind naming a Lioness as 'Sita', brought in Siliguri Safari Park from Tripura, by asking whether anybody would name a pet dog after Hindu God and Muslim prophet.
A bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya asked West Bengal's Additional Advocate General Joyjit Chowdhary in a secular and welfare state, why should one name a lion after Sita and Akbar.
The court was hearing a petition by VHP and others questioning the naming of the Lion and Lioness as Akbar and Sita.
Chowdhary submitted that naming has already been done by the concerned authority of Tripura. Since two lions have been brought in from Tripura and concerned authority of West Bengal is contemplating to rename these two lions, he said.
The counsel said the petition in the present form was not maintainable.
Having noted that a social organization along with two other private individuals have come up with the present writ petition, questioning naming of two lions as Sita and Akbar, the bench said, the alleged naming hurts the religious sentiments of a section of the citizens of our country who belong to a particular religious community.
"Therefore, it appears that the personal right of the petitioners is not in breach rather petitioners have espoused the cause of a greater section of people of our country who belong to a particular religion. Therefore, the writ petition in its present form is not maintainable," the bench said.
"At best the writ petition can be reclassified as public interest litigation and accordingly leave is granted to the learned advocate for the petitioners to reclassify the petition as public interest litigation by amending the presentation form as well as pro-forma page of the writ petition," the bench added.
The court ordered if such amendment is done, the registry is directed to transform this writ petition as public interest litigation by alloting necessary number and transmit the same before the regular bench for consideration within 10 days thereafter.
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