The Karnataka High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the government’s decision to rename Basavanagudi ward in Bengaluru as Dodda Ganapathi. The PIL was filed by Satyalaxmi Rao and others, who contended that the original name held significant historical and cultural value for the community.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind ruled against the petition, stating, “The issue of renaming a ward or city does not constitute a matter for public interest litigation. No public interest has been demonstrated to warrant relief for the petitioner.” The petitioners had sought the annulment of the notification issued by the Urban Development Department on September 25, 2023.
The court noted that the authorities have already renamed several wards in Bengaluru as part of an ongoing process to redraw ward boundaries. As a result, the petition was dismissed without further consideration.
