New Delhi/Jaipur: In a significant observation concerning the promotion of regional languages, the Supreme Court has stated that the State Government is constitutionally empowered to introduce and promote Rajasthani language in educational institutions through an appropriate policy framework.
The Court emphasized that there is no constitutional restriction on teaching or academically recognizing Rajasthani in schools and universities.
The observations came while hearing a Special Leave Petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s order, which had earlier refused to direct the State Government to include Rajasthani as a subject in schools. The petitioners had sought judicial intervention for institutional recognition and phased introduction of the language in the State’s education system.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court noted that Rajasthani is already being taught in several universities across Rajasthan, reflecting its existing academic and institutional acceptance.
The Bench observed that the issue primarily falls within the domain of policy formulation and that courts generally refrain from interfering in such matters unless there is a clear constitutional violation.
The Court remarked that under the constitutional framework, State Legislatures possess the authority to formulate policies aimed at preserving and promoting regional languages. It further observed that introducing Rajasthani in educational institutions would support the broader constitutional objective of protecting India’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
Highlighting the importance of regional languages, the Bench stated that recognition and promotion of indigenous languages are essential for maintaining the country’s diverse cultural identity.
The Court also observed that the demand for academic recognition of Rajasthani cannot be rejected merely because Hindi is the official language of Rajasthan under the Rajasthan Official Language Act, 1956.
At the same time, the Supreme Court clarified that it cannot compel the Government to frame or implement a specific language policy through judicial directions. According to the Bench, such decisions lie within the executive and legislative spheres of governance.
The petitioners had argued that Rajasthani is widely spoken across the State and, as per the 2011 Census, more than four crore people speak different dialects associated with the language. They contended that despite its widespread use and rich literary history, the language has not received adequate institutional support in school education.
The Supreme Court ultimately maintained that while courts cannot mandate language policy decisions, the State Government is fully competent to consider and implement measures for promoting Rajasthani language education in Rajasthan.