Sanjeev Sirohi
New Delhi, Apr 16, KDC: In a significant judgment with far-reaching implications, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the use of Urdu on the signboards of a Municipal Council in Maharashtra, ruling that Urdu and Marathi share equal constitutional status and that Urdu, born in India, cannot be associated with any particular religion.
A Bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran made the observations while dismissing a petition filed by Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councillor from Patur town in Akola district. The petitioner had challenged the use of Urdu on the nameplate of the Municipal Council’s new building, arguing that only Marathi—the official language of the state—should be used.
The court, however, rejected this contention, stating that while Marathi is the official language under the Maharashtra Official Language Act, 2022, the Act does not prohibit the use of additional languages, particularly those listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, such as Urdu.
“The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India,” the court according to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com said. “Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language which developed in India out of a need for people of different cultures to communicate.”
Quoting writer Mouloud Benzadi, the judgment began by emphasizing the role of language in fostering tolerance, open-mindedness, and unity: “When you learn a language, you don’t just learn to speak and write a new language. You also learn to be open-minded, liberal, tolerant, kind and considerate towards all mankind.”
The court highlighted that the division of Hindi and Urdu along religious lines was an outcome of colonial policy, and described it as a “pitiable digression from reality, from unity in diversity, and from the concept of universal brotherhood.”
“Language is not religion. Language does not even represent religion. Language belongs to a community, to a region, to people – and not to a religion,” the Bench remarked.
The judgment also noted the historical and cultural contributions of Urdu to Indian society, pointing out that many common Hindi words are rooted in Urdu, and vice versa. “Even court terminology is heavily influenced by Urdu, with terms like Adalat, halafnama, and vakalatnama widely used in Indian legal parlance,” it said.
The court observed that several Indian states—such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal—as well as Union Territories like Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir, recognize Urdu as one of their official languages under Article 345 of the Constitution.
On the specific case at hand, the Bench said that a Municipal Council is meant to cater to the local community’s needs, and if Urdu-speaking people reside in the area, using Urdu on signboards in addition to Marathi is fully justified.
“Language is a medium for the exchange of ideas that brings people holding diverse views and beliefs closer. It should not become a cause of their division,” the court concluded.
The judgment has been widely praised for reaffirming the inclusive spirit of the Constitution and recognizing India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. (KDC)
