Surprised to note that a monarchy title ‘Shrimant’ was prefixed to the road named after Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia in Lutyens Delhi, Central Information Commission has asked the chief minister's office to provide complete information on the decision taken.
No other roads named after former rulers like Akbar Road, Aurangzeb Road, and Ashoka Road has a monarchy title attached to it.
Not satisfied with New Delhi Municipal Council’s reply that ‘Shrimant’ was added to the name of the road after a mere letter by chief minister Sheila Dikshit's then parliamentary secretary Ramakant Goswami, RTI activist Subhash Chand Aggarwal had approached the CIC three days ago.
When CIC sought to know the reason behind adding the title of former rulers of Gwalior, NDMC produced a couple of letters written by Goswami to its then chairman Subhash Sharma. Goswami had initially requested to name a road after Madhavrao Scindia and NDMC informed him of renaming Canning Road as Madhavrao Scindia Marg.
On February 26, 2002 he again requested Sharma to add ‘Shrimant’ before the name.
The CIC has directed NDMC to provide Aggarwal all papers in relation to the decision — whether it was Goswami's decision or the CM's order.
According to Article 18 of Constitution, no title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the state.
Aggarwal told Deccan Herald that the CM should undo the wrong done by writing to the New Delhi Municipal Council to remove the word ‘Shrimant’.
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