The Calcutta High Court recently addressed a name-related controversy concerning two lions, Akbar and Sita, housed together at the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri. In a hearing on February 22, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya urged the West Bengal government to reconsider the names, after a petition by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad brought attention to the potential for communal controversy arising from the names, which reference a revered Hindu goddess and a historic Mughal emperor.
The Additional Advocate General, representing West Bengal, indicated that the names, originally bestowed in Tripura, were already under reconsideration. The court’s discussion highlighted the secular character of the state and queried the practice of naming animals after figures deeply respected by various religious and national communities. While acknowledging Akbar’s acclaimed status as a secular and successful leader, Justice Bhattacharyya questioned why the animals could not have been named more neutrally to avoid offending any religious or cultural sentiments.
The court recommended that the petition be elevated to a Public Interest Litigation, signaling the issue’s broader relevance to the public. Amidst other state controversies, the naming of the lioness Sita was specifically critiqued for its potential to disturb Hindu sentiments, while the juxtaposition with the lion named Akbar also raised concern. The Welfare State’s principles and its role in setting precedents were underscored as Justice Bhattacharyya encouraged the West Bengal authority to take a cautious path and amend the names to prevent the issue from escalating.