Remove caste from names of roads: Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed authorities to remove the reference to any caste in the names of roads and streets in Thesur town panchayat in Tiruvannamalai district.

A division bench comprising justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad gave the directive while disposing of a petition from A. Venkatesan, which sought a direction to remove the caste name in the street name boards in Thesur town panchayat.

Petitioner’s counsel A. Rajesh Kanna submitted that the petitioner was residing in the panchyat for over three generations. There were 52 streets, which have been named in memory of certain persons by including their castes, which was contrary to a GO dated October 3, 1978, he added.

Additional government pleader submitted that already a resolution has been passed by the municipality for removing the caste, in the name of the streets. Objections were being invited from the public regarding the resolution, he added.

The bench said, “There is no necessity to call for any objection from members of the public. Mandate in 1978 GO is extremely clear that wherever there is reference to a caste, in the name of roads and streets, the same has to be removed. Respondents (authorities) are directed to remove the reference to any caste, in the street/roads in Thesur town panchayat in the light of the GO”.