On Friday, 25 May 2024, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant struck down a public interest litigation filed by Brahmeshwar Nath Mishra, which urged the Centre to set up a commission to make Hindi the court’s official language.
The bench said that language‑related reforms are already underway through administrative channels and cannot be imposed by a court order. It added that such an undertaking would require a constitutional amendment.
Mishra, an advocate, argued that the Centre should be directed to form a commission, citing several constitutional provisions that grant the state authority over language policy. He also asked for a simple direction to expedite the process.
Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that the Supreme Court is slowly introducing Hindi reports and plans to incorporate other regional languages. He said the court will maintain the country’s linguistic culture and respect regional languages before any formal changes.
The ruling leaves the proposal on hold until the Centre follows its own administrative procedures. A follow‑up hearing on the matter is scheduled for July, when the court may revisit the issue if the Centre moves forward with a commission.