By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: The respective state has the right to adopt any language used in that state as long as it is languages listed in the Constitution, ruled the Apex Court on Thursday while upholding the 1989 decision of the Uttar Pradesh Government to adopt Urdu as a second language.
A Constitution bench comprising outgoing Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and Justices Dipak Misra, Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and SA Bobde dismissed the appeal of the UP Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. The Sammelan had first challenged the move in the Allahabad High Court and lost in 1996.
The bench said, “It is said that law and language are both organic in their mode of development. In India, these are evolving through the process of accepting legitimate aspirations of the speakers of different languages. Indian language laws are not rigid but accommodative – the object being to secure linguistic secularism.”
Muslim intellectuals, organisations and institutions have welcomed the Supreme Court judgment. Prof. Razaullah Khan Chairman, Mushawarti Council Jamia Urdu Aligarh termed the judgment as “mile stone in the history of justice delivery system in India.” He pointed out that UP has a sizeable Urdu speaking population and after judgment of the Apex Court it is now upon the UP government to give its due place not only officially but practically and functionally.
Farhat Ali Khan, OSD of Jamia Urdu Aligarh believe that Urdu has the potential to enhance communal harmony.
Jasim Mohammad Secretary of Millat Beadri Muhim Committee (MBMC) while discussing historical contribution of Urdu during freedom struggle pointed out that for the sustainable development of Urdu, declaring it second language in UP is not sufficient. The government should link it with employment if it has political will.