“Language, Not Religion”: Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Opposing Urdu on Signboards
Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councilor from Patur, had opposed the inclusion of Urdu alongside Marathi on the municipal council’s nameboard.
Image Source: The Hans India
New Delhi: Asserting that language should not be equated with religion, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition objecting to the use of Urdu on a municipal council’s signboard in Maharashtra, calling the association of Urdu exclusively with Muslims a “pitiable digression” from India’s reality and principle of unity in diversity.
A bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K. Vinod Chandran heard the petition filed by Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councillor from Patur in Akola district. She had objected to Urdu being used alongside Marathi on the municipal council’s board, arguing that municipal affairs should be conducted solely in Marathi. Her plea was earlier dismissed by the Municipal Council and the Bombay High Court before she approached the apex court.
Emphasizing that language is rooted in culture and not religion, the court said, “Language represents communities, regions, and cultures—not faiths. It is a vital measure of a community’s civilizational progress. Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language that evolved in India and reflects the essence of Ganga-Jamuni or Hindustani cultural heritage.”
The court pointed out that the council retained Urdu on its signage simply because many locals understood the language, aiding effective communication.
Addressing widespread misconceptions, the bench stated that Urdu is often wrongly viewed as foreign to India. In reality, it developed organically as diverse communities sought a common medium of communication, ultimately becoming a refined language embraced by celebrated poets.
The court added that everyday conversations in Hindi are filled with Urdu-origin words—ironically, even the term “Hindi” itself comes from Persian roots. Over time, however, colonial influences and linguistic purists created divisions, branding Hindi as a Hindu language and Urdu as Muslim—a harmful and misleading narrative.
Highlighting the practical purpose of signboards, the court said that if a section of the local population is comfortable with Urdu, there is no reason to oppose its inclusion alongside Marathi, especially when serving public needs.
The bench urged society to rise above prejudices, saying, “We must test our misconceptions and biases against the truth of our diverse nation. Embracing all languages—including Urdu—is our strength, not a weakness.”
The court also clarified that the 2022 Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act requires Marathi on official signboards but does not ban the use of other languages. Agreeing with the High Court’s judgment, it concluded that the appellant’s case was built on a misunderstanding of the law and thus warranted no interference.
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