'Why Create Controversy Naming Lion & Lioness After Sita & Akbar?': Calcutta High Court Suggests State To Change Animals' Names

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, directed for the reclassification of a plea moved by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad as a public interest litigation, and for it to be placed before the regular bench having determination over PILs.

The Court also orally called on the State to consider renaming the lioness called 'Sita' who was a worshipped goddess among Hindus, to avoid controversy. Upon being told that the lioness at Alipore zoo was called 'Sruti', the bench orally remarked:

"These are the uncontroversial names. Will you name a lion after a Hindu deity, a Muslim prophet or Christian god or freedom fighter or nobel laureate? Generally anyone who is revered or respected by the people of our country?"

Earlier Live Law had reported on the proceedings before a single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, which had 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.

On this occasion, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) submitted that the naming of the lions had taken place in Tripura, and it was the responsibility of the Tripura Zoo authorities. Counsel also submitted that the writ petition moved by the VHP would not be maintainable as there was no element of personal rights of the petitioners which were involved and that the State itself was looking into the possibility of renaming the lions.

Upon hearing these arguments, the Bench was of the view that due to the nature of the petition which espoused the rights of a large group of people, and claimed that naming a lion after Sita, who was worshipped by many Hindus would hurt their religious sentiments, the plea would have to be reclassified as a PIL, and the present bench would not have determination to hear the same. 

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? This controversy should have been avoided. Not only Sita, but I also don't support the naming of a lion Akbar. He was a very efficient and noble Mughal emperor. Very successful and secular Mughal emperor. If it is already named, the state authority should shun it and avoid it. West Bengal should have challenged the names given.

AAG vehemently submitted that the naming exercise was undertaken by the Tripura zoo authorities and that the West Bengal authorities were considering renaming the lions. It was also submitted that the case was causing controversy on social media, leading to a bad impression being given to the State.

Accordingly, in releasing the matter from its list, the Court granted the petitioners liberty to amend their pleadings in the form of a PIL and file the same after which the registry was redirected to re-number and place it before the bench having determination over PILs.

It however suggested that the State look to change the controversial names.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Cal) 51

Case: VHP v State of WB

Case No: WPA 360/2024