Rajasthan high court quashes order that renamed Rajeev Gandhi Sewa Kendras

Jaipur: Rajasthan high court on Thursday quashed the Rajasthan government’s order that renamed Bharat Nirman Rajeev Gandhi Sewa Kendra to Atal Sewa Kendras. The BJP government in the state had renamed these centers in honor of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The court also suggested that the government should name schemes after martyrs to avoid such conflicts when the change of guard happens.

The court had earlier issued a notice seeking an explanation from the government as to why the name was changed.

The single bench of Justice M N Bhandari issued the order to cancel the state government’s notification that renamed the centers. A petition had been filed in this regard by former Congress MLA Sayam Lodha who challenged the decision of the state government as illegal and arbitrary.

Puneet Singhvi counsel for the petitioner said the central government had issued a notification to name village knowledge resource centre and gram panchayat Bhawan at gram panchayat level constructed under the National Rural Employment Act 2005 as the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra. The state government issued an administrative order to rename these centers as Atal Sewa Kendra.

“An administrative order from the state government can not supersede a central government’s notification. It was illegal,” said the lawyer.

The petition said both Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee are former prime ministers and Bharat Ratna awardees. There should not disrespect of any of these respected personalities. The government decision has shown the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in a poor light. Besides there should be sufficient reason to make such a change which had significant cost the state government exchequer. Besides except Rajasthan, in all other state the name has not changed. The notice is returnable within three weeks.