Bombay is replaced with Maharashtra in Acts

The state legislative assembly today passed a bill for replacing the word "Bombay" from Acts and rules in force in the state.

Accordingly, the word "Bombay" in the nomenclature of 84 Acts will be replaced by the word "Maharashtra". Also, references to "Bombay" or "Greater Bombay" appearing in such Acts or in any other state enactment, rules, regulations, bye-laws, schemes, notifications, orders or any other instrument will be replaced with "Mumbai" or "Brihanmumbai".

The context and citations of these Acts will remain unchanged.

These Acts were enacted before the reorganisation of the state on May 1,1960, when today's states of Gujarat and Maharashtra were a part of the state (province originally) of Bombay.

Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai and MNS legislators Nitin Sardesai pointed out that similar changes were necessary in 85 other Acts. Sardesai also said the government should also approach the Centre for change in nomenclature of institutions like the Bombay Bar Association and the Bombay High Court etc.

Desai also opposed the proposal of replacing all "Bombay Acts" with "Maharashtra Acts" and advocated that the appropriate ones could also be referred to as "Mumbai Acts". (More)