SC Dismisses Plea Seeking Inclusion of Rajasthani as Official Language

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought the inclusion of Rajasthani as an official language under the Indian Constitution.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, stated that the decision regarding the inclusion of languages in the Constitution is a matter for the government to decide, not the judiciary.

The Court stated, “The Supreme Court cannot issue directions here. The government has to make a call in this regard.” The PIL aimed to have Rajasthani included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

During the proceedings, the counsel representing the Central government referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Kanhaiya Lal Sethia and Anr v. Union of India and Anr, emphasizing that the inclusion of a language in the Schedule is a policy decision.

The Court concurred with this perspective, stating, “The relief being sought is to include Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule. The advocate for the respondent has placed on record our judgment in Kanhaiya Lal Sethia 1997 case. We are in agreement with the view that whether a language should be included is a policy decision. We decline to entertain the petition.”

Advocate Ripudaman Singh, representing the petitioners, argued that the judgment was not applicable to this case. He asserted that the Central government’s policy was also in favor of the inclusion and that the matter had been pending for over 70 years.

The Court stated that since the government’s policy was in line with the petitioner’s request, it could not issue any directions. Furthermore, the Court emphasized that decisions related to the democratic polity, particularly those concerning languages, should be made by the executive branch.

Consequently, the Apex Court dismissed the plea.