In a decision that reinforces India’s constitutional pluralism and cultural diversity, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday upheld the use of Urdu on a signboard belonging to a municipal council in Akola district, Maharashtra, stating unequivocally that “language belongs to a community, to a region, to people — and not to a religion.”
The ruling came in response to a petition challenging a Bombay High Court judgment that permitted the use of Urdu alongside Marathi on the Patur Municipal Council office signage. The petitioner, a former councillor, had argued that including Urdu was impermissible under state laws governing official language use.
The bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran, declined to interfere with the High Court’s ruling and delivered a strongly worded judgment affirming the cultural and civilisational significance of Urdu. The court described the language as “the finest specimen of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb,” invoking the composite cultural heritage of North India.
“Let Our Concepts Be Clear”
Quoting Algerian poet Mouloud Benzadi, Justice Dhulia began the opinion with a reflection on the broader humanistic role of language:
“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.”
From this vantage, the court proceeded to dismantle the core arguments of the petitioner, cautioning that linguistic prejudice, especially when rooted in religious bias, posed a threat to India’s cultural strength.
“Language is not religion,” the court observed. “Language does not even represent religion. It is a medium for the exchange of ideas, one that brings people with diverse beliefs closer.”
Urdu and the Question of Identity
The judgment was as much about law as it was about cultural identity. While acknowledging that the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022 does not bar the use of Urdu, the court extended the reasoning further to include constitutional and cultural considerations.
It stated that if a segment of the population — such as in Akola — is familiar with Urdu, there is no rational basis to exclude it from public signage, particularly when Marathi, the official language, is not being displaced.
“If the residents of a particular region are familiar with Urdu, there is no valid reason to object to its presence on official boards,” the court said.
Confronting Misconceptions
The ruling also delivered a subtle yet firm critique of social resistance to languages like Urdu, which have historically been marginalised due to their perceived religious associations.
“Our misconceptions, perhaps even our prejudices against a language, have to be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality, which is this great diversity of our nation,” the bench wrote.
The justices urged society to see language as a marker of civilisational progress — not division.
A Wider Cultural Embrace
The court’s language carried a tone of advocacy as well as adjudication. By framing Urdu within the broader Hindustani heritage, it sent a clear message to state and local bodies that linguistic inclusion is not only legal but necessary in a country with immense cultural diversity.
“Let us make friends with Urdu and every language,” the bench urged, in a sentence that is likely to echo in classrooms and legislative assemblies alike.
A Precedent Beyond Akola
While the immediate impact of the ruling is limited to the Akola municipal council, its implications are likely to be felt across India. The judgment affirms the right of local governments to reflect linguistic plurality in their communication, provided it does not violate any statutory norms.
For India — a nation with 22 scheduled languages, hundreds of dialects, and deep cultural entanglements between communities — the ruling reaffirms that language is a bridge, not a boundary.
And at a time when the politics of identity often threatens to overshadow shared heritage, the Supreme Court has reminded the nation that its strength lies in its diversity — spoken, written, and understood.