Supreme Court Upholds Urdu Signboards in Maharashtra Municipality

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The Supreme Court upheld Bombay High Court’s ruling allowing Urdu on Patur Municipal Council’s signboard in Maharashtra, stating Urdu is Indian in origin and symbolizes cultural harmony. The court emphasized language promotes communication and unity, not religious or social division.

Supreme Court Upholds Urdu Signboards in Maharashtra Municipality

Supreme Court Upholds Use of Urdu on Municipal Signboard :

  • The Supreme Court upheld the use of Urdu on Patur Municipal Council’s signboard in Akola, Maharashtra.
  • A former councillor had challenged this under the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022.
  • The court ruled that Urdu is deeply rooted in India’s cultural and linguistic heritage, not an “alien” language.

Language as a Unifying Cultural Force, Not Religious Identity

  • The SC stated that language must not divide people; Urdu reflects India’s Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.
  • Justice Dhulia emphasized, “Language is not religion, it belongs to people and regions, not faiths.”
  • Urdu, like Hindi and Marathi, is an Indo-Aryan language born in India. It evolved to bridge diverse communities.
  • Urdu is the 6th most spoken scheduled language in India, present in all states except some northeastern
  • The court highlighted the interconnectedness of Hindi and Urdu, stressing their mutual influence on daily speech.

Embracing Linguistic Diversity: A Constitutional and Cultural Duty

  • The court noted India’s linguistic richness with over 270 mother tongues (2011 Census).
  • Urdu’s vocabulary is integral to court language and everyday conversation in India.
  • The SC stressed the Constitution never intended to erase Hindustani or Urdu despite Hindi’s official status.
  • It upheld the Bombay HC’s view that using Urdu alongside Marathi on signboards is lawful and practical.
  • The court concluded: Language fosters communication and harmony, and should never be used to create divisions.

Official Languages under the Indian Constitution :

●      Article 343(1): Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union; English continued for official purposes (under Section 3, Official Language Act, 1963).

●      Part XVII (Articles 343-351): Deals with India’s official language framework.

Key Provisions:

●      Language of the Union:

○       Hindi (Devanagari) as the primary official language.

○       English permitted for official use until Parliament decides otherwise.

●      Regional Languages:

○       States can choose official languages (Article 345).

○       Language for inter-state and state-Union communication specified (Article 346).

●      Language of Judiciary:

○       English mandatory for Supreme Court & High Courts (Article 348).

○       States may allow Hindi/official state languages with President’s consent.

●      Special Directives:

○       Promotion of mother-tongue instruction, linguistic minority protection (Articles 350A, 350B).

○       Development of Hindi encouraged (Article 351).

Official Languages Commission (Article 344):

●      Constituted by the President to recommend Hindi’s progressive use and restrict English.

Eighth Schedule:

●      Lists 22 languages, ensuring linguistic diversity and representation.

●      Languages include: Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Sindhi, and more.