Nithyakalyani Narayanan. V
On July 21st, the Supreme Court rejected a PIL that requested to include Rajasthani as one of the official languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misraexplained that the Government has to take a call in this regard and that the Supreme Court cannot issue directions.
The Counsel representing the Centre cited the apex court’s decision in Kanhaiya Lal Sethia and Anr v. Union Of India and Anr to defend whether it is a policy decision with regard to the inclusion of a language in the Schedule
The Bench observed that “Relief being sought is to include Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule. Advocate for respondent has placed on record our judgment in Kanhaiya Lal Sethia 1997 case. We are in agreement with the view. Whether a language should be included is a policy decision. We decline to entertain the petition.”
Counsel for the petitioners argued that the cited judgment was not applicable here. He stated that the Centre’s policy was in his favour and that the issue was pending for more than seven decades.
The Court declared that since the Central government’s policy was in favour of the petitioner, it could not pass directions. The bench highlighted that there might be other languages with similar claims and hence certain decisions, especially those related to the democratic polity, should be made by the executive branch.
Therefore, the Court dismissed the plea.
Name of the case: Ripudaman Singh v. Union Of India And Anr.
Bench: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra.