The Orissa High Court at Cuttack has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to change the spelling of the historic city “Cuttack” to “Katak.” The bench made it clear that such decisions fall within the government’s domain, not the courts.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by Srujeet Khuntia, who urged the court to direct authorities to officially adopt the spelling “Katak” for the city. The plea was inspired by a recent government notice proposing corrections in the spelling of several place names across Odisha.
This was not Khuntia’s first attempt. The petitioner had earlier approached the court twice with similar demands. On one occasion, he was advised to make a representation to the government, and on another, the petition was dismissed at the outset for lacking public interest.
In the present case, the petitioner argued that “Katak” had been historically used in official and academic records, including certificates issued by educational institutions.
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Hearing the matter, the bench led by the Chief Justice observed that the power to decide the spelling of place names lies exclusively with the government. The court emphasized the principle of separation of powers under the Constitution.
“The Court should not extend its powers… in dealing with all such cases which is within the exclusive domain of the Government,” the bench noted.
The judges also pointed out that the issue had already been considered and rejected in earlier litigation. Filing repeated petitions on the same subject, the court said, cannot be permitted unless new legal grounds arise.
In strong remarks, the bench described the petition as lacking genuine public interest. “It is one of such examples of publicity interest litigation,” the court observed, indicating concern over misuse of PILs for personal recognition rather than public welfare.
The court further stressed the need for consistency in judicial decisions, stating that
“certainty and uniformity in law is the hallmark of dispensation of justice.”
Concluding that the petition was not maintainable, the High Court dismissed the PIL.
The bench also imposed a cost of ₹10,000 on the petitioner, directing that the amount be deposited with the Odisha State Legal Services Authority’s Juvenile Justice Fund within two weeks.
The court directed that the amount, once deposited, be used for the welfare of children in need of care and protection. In case of default, the authority has been permitted to recover the amount as per law
Case details
Case Title:Srujeet Khuntia vs State of Odisha & Others
Case Number: W.P.(C) PIL No. 6181 of 2026
Bench/Judges: Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman
Decision Date: 15 April 2026
