Telangana SIR | Consider Giving Urdu Forms In Constituencies With Above 20% Urdu-Knowing Voters : High Court To ECI

The Telangana High Court on Monday (June 29) asked the Election Commission of India to consider providing enumeration forms in Urdu language, at the option of the elector, where population of Urdu knowing electors in particular constituencies exceeds 20%. 

The court was hearing a petition challenging a decision to print and distribute enumeration forms for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision in the State exclusively in Telugu language. House-to-house enumeration exercise by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Telangana is scheduled from June 25 to July 24. 

The plea seeks a declaration that printing and distributing the Enumeration Forms exclusively in Telugu language is as violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India and contrary to Rule 4 of the Registration of Electors Rules 1960.

In the interim the plea seeks a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana to print and distribute the Enumeration Forms in a bilingual format i.e., in Telugu and English languages and to make the same available throughout the State during the forthcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026. Last week the high court had asked the ECI's counsel to seek instructions in the matter. 

During the hearing senior counsel appearing for petitioner submitted before Justice B Vijaysen Reddy that Hyderabad is a metropolitan city and people from several places in India like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka have settled down.

He submitted that Hyderabad has a substantial minority population who speak Urdu language. It was submitted that the respondent authorities are deliberately printing enumeration forms in Telugu with a malafide intention to exclude several voters who are not well versed with Telugu language. 

Meanwhile senior counsel for ECI submitted a standard policy is followed by ECI. It was submitted that as Telugu is first official language of the state, the enumeration forms are printed in Telugu. He submitted that so far as Greater Hyderabad Metropolitan Corporation area is concerned forms are in English.

He submitted that in a meeting conducted by respondent 2 Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana it was unanimously decided to print of enumeration forms in English language in respect of Hyderabad district of voters, since it is more convenient to voters. It was submitted that many residents of Hyderabad speak Urdu language, and instructions were issued directing the booth level officers to carry 5-10 dummy enumeration forms in Urdu language for better understanding of electors while filling up the forms. 

"It was submitted that the original enumeration forms in Telugu will be compared with the dummy forms in Urdu language and voter concerned will be explained properly and information furnished by them will be duly filled in without any scope for complaint," the court noted the ECI's submission.

Countering such arguments senior counsel for petitioner submitted that the question of carrying dummy forms or enumeration forms in Urdu language to be given to voters on request goes contrary to spirit of Constitution. It is a known fact many in Hyderabad, particularly minority don't speak Urdu language and thus the government respondents cannot insist that enumeration form should be in Telugu or English, he said. 

Senior counsel for ECI meanwhile submitted that submission of counsel for petitioner is beyond the scope of the writ petition as it was to issue English enumeration forms. 

It was submitted that if general directions are given to print forms in three languages it will be huge burden to state exchequer. However the petitioner's counsel said this was a constitutional right of the voters. 

"In light of the above submissions, as Telugu is the first official language and noting contention of senior counsel for ECI that English enumeration forms are being printed as unanimous request of all political parties dummy enumeration forms in Urdu language are also provided to BLOs for better understanding by Urdu knowing electors, this court is not inclined to pass any orders. However the respondent authorities are directed to consider providing enumeration forms in Urdu language in constituencies where population of Urdu knowing electors in particular constituencies exceeds more than 20% and at the option of the elector. The compliance of this order shall be communicated to this court by next date of hearing," the court dictated in its order. 

After dictating the order court thereafter orally asked as to when was the enumeration taking place to which the ECI's counsel said that it will be done three times. 

"Find out what happened in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar. What about Urdu forms in Bengal and Bihar?," the court orally asked.

Meanwhile the senior counsel for petitioner said that practically a situation had arisen where even those who can speak Telugu are unable to write it which posed a difficulty. He questioned as to what would be the difficulty in printing the form in English adding that proceedings of the ECI are also conducted in English. 

"Nowhere in India you have two forms?...one side English, one side Telugu, one side English one side Urdu you don't have?...Election Commission of India is a body conducting elections in the largest democracy in the world. You should have answers and solutions. You should not say not possible. People is the democracy. Will of people is democracy...This is off the record comments and has nothing to do with case. But ECI should know that democracy is will of the people...What for we fought for independence? I'm tell you. Petitioners may not have argued...What for we got this independence?...The person does not know what is his right..." the court orally said. 

At this stage the counsel for petitioner said that forms can be provided in bilingual manner. 

The court thereafter orally said, "Do you know about Switzerland? Switzerland has four official languages...Even if you purchase a medicine or toffee, four languages will be there.German, French, Italian, and Romansh...German is 80% , Romansh is 1-2%; still it is there...Switzerland was formed with occupation of people of four major backgrounds. They want it to distribute into four pieces...But they thought its one of the most beautiful country in the world so they let it remain. Therefore four languages...This is a sensitive subject. I'm just asking them, why cant you have one side English, one side Urdu...when Aadhaar card can be given, when Motor Vehicle form can be given, why not this?".

The ECI's counsel said that they do not want to cause any confusion which may arise if someone fills up either back or the front of the form. "If somebody says we want it in English, and I do not understand the language please show it, we will show it. On second visit if somebody wants it we will give it...there are three visits. Each of these persons are there to help and visit...to ensure that voter knows what is being entered. If forms are given in different languages, and filled in different languages, while processing it BLO cannot verify each of those languages...If they make a mistake in verification it will cause more confusion. Person who is going should be in position to verify" 

To this the court orally asked, "Why can't you employ persons who know Urdu also?" ECI's counsel said that authorities are verifying that, putting it in dummy form and filling it in the Telugu form. 

"Let them come with a response, after that I will modify the order accordingly. Find out what happened in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. Writ petitions are filed in those high courts and Supreme Court...Usually decision of ECI is not interfered with..." the court orally remarked. 

Case title: M.A. Mujeeb Ayyub v/s Election Commission of India & Others

WP 19794/2026