India, Nov. 6 -- The controversy over naming the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after late farmer leader DB Patil, as per demands of project affected people (PAPs), deepened on Tuesday after the Bombay High Court refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to expedite the process.

A division bench led by chief justice Shree Chandrashekhar and justice Gautam Ankhad declined to intervene in the matter, saying, "We cannot direct anyone to name or rename anything." Such decisions fell strictly within the executive's domain, the judges said.

Following the court's verdict, the petitioner, Vikas Patil, president of the Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha, said he would approach the Supreme Court.

"Despite a unanimous res...