Supreme Court Says Hindi Is National Language, Sparking Debate
The Supreme Court of India has said that Hindi is the national language of the country. The observation was made by Justice Dipankar Datta in a judgment rejecting a petition seeking transfer of a motor accident case from Farukkhabad, Uttar Pradesh to Darjeeling, West Bengal.
The petitioner had argued that the witnesses in the case were from West Bengal and would not be able to communicate in Hindi. However, Justice Datta said that Hindi was the national language and that witnesses were expected to communicate in it, regardless of their state of origin.
The judgment has sparked a debate about the status of Hindi in India. The Constitution of India does not explicitly designate any language as the national language, but it does list Hindi and English as the official languages of the Union.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to make Hindi the sole national language of India. However, this has been met with opposition from some states, particularly those in the south of the country, where other languages are widely spoken.
The Supreme Court’s judgment is likely to further fuel the debate about the status of Hindi in India. It remains to be seen whether the government will take any steps to implement the judgment, or whether it will be challenged in a higher court.
Reactions to the Judgment
The judgment has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed it, saying that it is a step towards unifying the country. Others have criticized it, saying that it is a Hindi imposition on non-Hindi speaking states.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has said that the judgment is “unconstitutional” and “divisive”. The party has called for a review of the judgment by a larger bench of the Supreme Court.
The Shiv Sena has also criticized the judgment, saying that it is “a blow to federalism”. The party has said that it will “fight tooth and nail” to protect the rights of non-Hindi speaking states.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the judgment, saying that it is “a victory for national unity”. The party has said that it will “work towards making Hindi the common language of all Indians”.
The Way Ahead
The Supreme Court’s judgment has highlighted the complex issue of language in India. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the judgment, and whether it will lead to any changes in the status of Hindi in India.
The debate about the status of Hindi is likely to continue for some time. It is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is an important issue that needs to be addressed if India is to achieve true unity.
