MetroStation – Delhi HC Reviews Plea to Rename Supreme Court Stop
MetroStation – A public interest petition seeking to rename the Supreme Court Metro Station in Hindi has prompted a detailed response from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, with the matter now under consideration before the Delhi High Court.
Cost Concerns Raised by Metro Authority
During a recent hearing, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) informed a division bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela that altering the station’s name to “Sarvoch Nyayalaya” in Devanagari script would involve significant expenditure.
According to the corporation, the estimated cost of implementing such a change for a single station ranges between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 45 lakh. Officials argued that the financial implications extend well beyond replacing station signboards.
Counsel representing the DMRC emphasized that the organization, being a public sector undertaking, must consider budgetary constraints. They further cautioned that approving one such request might open the door to similar demands concerning other metro stations, potentially leading to additional legal challenges.
Beyond Signage: Wider Operational Impact
The corporation explained that renaming a metro station involves a series of interconnected modifications. Apart from updating physical signage at the station premises, adjustments would also be required in route maps displayed inside trains and stations, printed materials, and digital platforms including mobile applications.
Officials noted that changes to the metro’s integrated information system would require technical updates, testing, and coordination across departments. The DMRC submitted that these cumulative measures contribute to the overall cost and operational complexity of the proposal.
The metro authority also expressed concern that allowing one change could trigger multiple petitions seeking similar reliefs for other stations, potentially affecting administrative efficiency.
Court Questions Objections
The bench, however, indicated that the possibility of further litigation cannot, by itself, serve as a valid reason to dismiss the plea. The judges directed the DMRC to file a detailed affidavit outlining its position and scheduled the matter for further hearing in April.
The court framed the issue in comparative terms. It observed that certain metro stations already display Hindi equivalents of their names in Devanagari script. For instance, Delhi University station is referred to as “Vishwavidyalaya,” while Central Secretariat appears as “Kendriya Sachivalaya.” In this context, the bench questioned why a similar approach could not be adopted for the Supreme Court station.
Basis of the Public Interest Petition
The petition has been filed by Umesh Sharma, who argues that the current naming format does not fully align with provisions of the Official Languages Act. According to the plea, signboards, manuals, and nameplates in Central government establishments should be presented in both English and Hindi, with Hindi written in Devanagari script.
The petitioner’s counsel pointed out that even the official website of the Supreme Court of India refers to the institution in Hindi as “Bharat ka Sarvoch Nyayalaya.” The plea contends that extending this nomenclature to the metro station would ensure consistency with language policy norms.
Broader Implications for Public Infrastructure
The case highlights the intersection of language policy and urban infrastructure management. While the petitioner emphasizes compliance with statutory language requirements, the metro authority has underscored practical and financial considerations tied to system-wide updates.
The outcome of the case could influence how public transport authorities handle similar requests in the future. With millions of passengers relying on metro services daily, even minor changes in station names can have wide-reaching logistical effects.
As the matter proceeds, the court’s eventual decision is expected to clarify the balance between linguistic representation and administrative feasibility within India’s public transportation network.