SC Refuses Plea to Rename Navi Mumbai Airport, CJI Addresses Youth Protests
May 19, 2026 04:32 PM IST

SC Refuses Plea to Rename Navi Mumbai Airport, CJI Addresses Youth Protests

Desk Correspondent , New Delhi - The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea to rename the Navi Mumbai International Airport after 'Lokneta D B Patil', ruling that the matter falls under the domain of government policymaking. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, declined the petition filed by the Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha. The social organization had approached the apex court seeking a timely decision from the Central government on the state's renaming proposal.


Addressing arguments regarding criminal cases filed against youth demonstrating over the renaming dispute, CJI Kant emphasized that demonstrations must not threaten public order or disrupt daily life. The hearing followed a weekend controversy where the Chief Justice clarified his previous oral observations from a separate case. He stated that a section of the media had misquoted him after reports alleged he used derogatory terms against certain individuals, explaining that his actual intention was to criticize those entering professional fields using fraudulent qualifications.


Dismissing the renaming plea as an inappropriate policy intervention for the judiciary, the bench strongly cautioned against unlawful demonstrations and unwarranted attacks on legal systems. "Everybody has a right to peaceful and lawful protest... as permissible in law can be done. But not come on the streets and create problems for the common man," said CJI Kant. Commenting on the earlier misquote row regarding individuals with fake degrees who targeted institutions, he previously observed, "There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists, and they start attacking everyone."

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