The Calcutta High Court, on Thursday, called on the state to rename the lioness named ‘Sita’ and a lion named ‘Akbar’ and asked who had given this name, causing controversy.
The court was hearing a petition by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to change the name of the lioness, Live Law reported.
The court asked the state government’s lawyer whether he would name his pet after a Hindu God, or Muslim Prophet, or freedom fighter or a Nobel laureate.
“These are the uncontroversial names. Will you name a lion after a Hindu deity, a Muslim prophet, or Christian god, or freedom fighter, or a Nobel laureate? Generally, anyone who is revered or respected by the people of our country?” the bench orally remarked.
A single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya had earlier directed the State counsel to obtain instructions on whether the pair of lions brought in from Tripura Zoo were named ‘Akbar’ and ‘Sita’ by the West Bengal Zoo authorities.
Justice Bhattacharya orally expressed strong views on the ‘controversial names’ given to the pair of animals.
He remarked, “Who has given this name? Causing controversy? I was thinking whether any animal can be given a name after a god, mythological hero, freedom fighter, or Nobel laureate. You are a welfare state and it is a secular state. Why should you draw controversy by naming a lion after Sita and Akbar?”
The judge said that this controversy could be avoided. He further stated that Sita and even naming a lion ‘Akbar’ is not good. Praising Akbar, Bhattacharya said if the naming was already done, the state authority should shun it and avoid it. West Bengal should have challenged the names given, as per the Live Law.
