Jayant Verma v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur, WPC No. 1413 of 2022, decided 10/10/2025 by Arvind Kumar Verma, J. Petitioner Jayant Verma, grandson and lineal descendant of freedom fighter Late Madhukar Singh, sought a direction to recognise the latter's contribution to the freedom struggle and to consider renaming the Government High Secondary School, Village Sind, Tehsil Berla, District Bemetara, in his name; the State had replied on 23.07.2021 declining the request despite a gram panchayat resolution and an MP's intervention. The Court held that naming/renaming of government educational institutions is a policy discretion of the State, that mandamus cannot compel a policy decision absent violation of constitutional or statutory rights, and that no arbitrariness, mala fide or infringed right was shown; Article 226, Constitution of India. Petition dismissed.
What did the court decide?
The renaming of a public institution is a matter of administrative and policy decision of the Government, lying within the exclusive domain of the State, which must weigh historical, social and administrative implications.