The Court made the observation while dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to replace the term ‘Central Government’ with ‘Union Government’ in all laws, legislations and official communications.
An 84-year-old social activist named Atmaram Saraogi had filed the PIL arguing that under the Constitution, India is a ‘Union of States’ and that there cannot be any concept of a ‘Central Government’ as it existed under the British Raj.
The plea sought the striking down of the definition of Central government as defined in the General Clauses Act as being ultra vires the Constitution.
“Article 1 of the Constitution of India used the words ‘The Union and its Territory’ and states that ‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.’ Interestingly, the terms ‘Centre’ or ‘Central Government’ have consciously not been used in any of the 395 articles divided in 22 parts and/or in eight schedules of the Constitution of India,” the plea stated.
Source: Barandbench
