Indian SC upholds use of Urdu on municipal signboard, cites cultural heritage
Members of media speak in front of cameras outside the premises of the court in New Delhi, India October 13, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
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In a landmark judgment promoting linguistic inclusivity, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the use of Urdu on the Patur Municipal Council building's signboard in Maharashtra, dismissing a petition that challenged its legality.
A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran ruled that the inclusion of Urdu signage does not violate any law, including the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022.
The court emphasized that language is a medium of communication, not division, and reaffirmed the cultural significance of Urdu in India.
'Language is culture,' Justice Dhulia stated in the verdict, highlighting Urdu as a symbol of India's Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (composite culture).
The court noted that misconceptions and biases against Urdu are unfounded, stressing that Urdu, like Hindi and Marathi, is an Indo-Aryan language that evolved in India.
The court also rejected the notion that Urdu is religiously exclusive, stating, 'Language belongs to a community, not a religion.'
It underscored that Urdu continues to influence legal terminology and daily communication, citing terms like adalat, halafnama, and vakalatnama as examples.
Citing Census data, the court noted that India is home to over 122 major languages and 270 mother tongues, with Urdu ranking sixth among the most spoken scheduled languages.
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