New Delhi, April 24 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre and the state governments, including union territories, on a PIL seeking that country should be named as 'Bharat'.

The PIL petition has sought direction to the Centre and the state governments including union territories to use to Bharat for all official and unofficial purposes of the government.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra issued notice on the PIL by one Niranjan Bhatwal from Maharashtra that has sought a clarification for an unambiguous understanding of the Article 1 of the Constitution on the name of the country.

The PIL sought to restrain the Centre, States and UTs from using 'India' in government communications and other official work.

The PIL has also sought direction to all the government organizations, NGOs and corporate sector to use "prospectively the name 'Bharat' for all official and unofficial purposes.

Referring to the proceedings of the drafting committee that prepared the draft constitution that was deliberated upon by the Constituent Assembly, the PIL said that "it is crystal clear that the a Constituent Assembly intended to name the country as 'Bharat' and 'India' as is evident from the motion passed on September 18, 1949.