Supreme Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Inclusion Of Rajasthani Language In Eighth Schedule

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the inclusion of "Rajasthani" language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The petition was filed by Advocate Ripudaman Singh who argued before a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Misra.

At the very outset, the bench expressed its disinclination towards entertaining the petition. CJI DY Chandrachud remarked that it was not within the court's authority to mandate the inclusion of any language in the Eighth Schedule. The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is a list of officially recognized languages. At present, the Eighth Schedule includes 22 languages. 

The counsel for Union, at this juncture, highlighted that the Supreme Court had already declined a similar relief in the judgement of Kanhaiya Lal Sethia and Anr v. Union Of India and Anr in 1997. Advocate Singh argued that the Kanhaiya Lal Sethia judgement raised different questions of law and claimed that the Central government's policy also was in his favour and that the issue was pending for more than 70 years. However, the Supreme Court remained disinclined to grant relief to the petitioner. 

CJI Chandrachud said :

"Inclusion of a language under the eighth schedule is not something we can issue a mandamus on...this is a policy function. Why only Rajasthani? Why not other languages? It's on the constitutional functionaries to decide. Move the central government...Somethings in a democratic polity are answerable by the political executive. This is a classic example of that."

Accordingly, the PIL was dismissed.

Case Title: Ripudaman Singh v. Union Of India And Anr. W.P.(C) No. 387/2023

Citation : 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 556

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