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Supreme Court Upholds Urdu on Maharashtra Signboards

The ruling affirms the equal constitutional status of Urdu and Marathi, emphasizing linguistic diversity and cultural unity in public administration.

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The Supreme Court said Urdu and Marathi have the same status under the Constitution, rejecting the claims that only Marathi should be used.
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Overview

  • The Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the inclusion of Urdu alongside Marathi on municipal signboards in Maharashtra, citing no legal prohibition under the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022.
  • The Court reinforced that Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language born in India, countering misconceptions that it is foreign or tied to religion.
  • Judges highlighted that language serves as a tool for communication and cultural preservation, not division, and praised Urdu as a key element of India's syncretic 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.'
  • The ruling underscored that using Urdu on signboards aids effective communication for local populations familiar with the language, aligning with public service goals.
  • This landmark decision champions India's linguistic and cultural diversity, urging citizens to respect and celebrate all languages as integral to national unity.