A Division Bench comprising Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel dismissed the petition filed in October 2025 by S. Paramasivam, the state vice‑president of the Hindu Advocates Front, after hearing arguments that the order unfairly excluded certain historic and spiritual figures.
The petition sought to halt the government order (G.O.) that outlines a systematic process for identifying and renaming roads, streets, residential areas, bus stands, markets, waterbodies and village panchayats bearing caste‑based names. The petitioner argued that the annexed “Sample list of names” deliberately omitted notable Tamil patriots and spiritual leaders, including the Nayanmar, Alwar, Samayakurai and Siddhar traditions, and that the order provided no mechanism for local objections or hearings.
Earlier, the same bench had partially restrained the state from implementing the G.O. pending an assessment of the places to be renamed. That restriction was lifted in the present judgment, with the court directing the state to include the previously left‑out locations in the renaming programme.
The court noted that there had been no recorded complaints of caste abuse arising from the use of such names, but affirmed the government's authority to rename public spaces in the interest of social equity. The decision clears the way for the state to move forward with the comprehensive renaming plan.
Legal experts said the ruling underscores the judiciary’s willingness to uphold administrative reforms aimed at reducing caste‑based discrimination, while also highlighting the sensitivities surrounding cultural and historical nomenclature in Tamil Nadu.