DEHRADUN: The Supreme Court has intervened in a contentious national debate, staying a controversial Nainital High Court order that questioned the suitability of an official who could not speak English for election duties.
This judicial intervention has reignited a vocal discussion across India about the dominance of English over Hindi in public life, prompting a critical examination of language proficiency as a prerequisite for effective governance in a multi-lingual nation.
At the heart of this renewed discussion are strong voices challenging the premise of the High Court's directive.
"This is nothing but a colonial hangover," asserted social activist Anup Nautiyal, squarely labelling the notion that only English should be spoken. He passionately argued, "We need to move beyond this English-Hindi dichotomy and the perception that 'only English will be spoken'. As the world flattens, knowledge is also democratising. It is not a preserve of a certain community only."
Adding a crucial perspective, senior educationist and former DAV College, Dehradun Principal, Dr Devendra Bhasin, emphasised, "It is essential for everyone to respect Hindi. The development of a country happens by adopting its own language in practice; we have the examples of China and Japan."
Senior journalist Kiran Kant highlighted the practical realities within the state, stating unequivocally, "In our state, 90% of PCS officers are Hindi medium educated. If we don't speak Hindi in our own country, where will we speak it?"
The High Court decision, which drew national censure, had emerged from a petition concerning alleged irregularities in voter lists for the Budhlakot Gram Panchayat in Nainital. The petitioner claimed that non-residents, including individuals from Odisha, were improperly enrolled.
During proceedings on July 18, the High Court specifically sought answers from the Chief Secretary and State Election Commission on a pivotal question: "Can an officer who is unable to speak English effectively control election duties?"
The Additional District Magistrate Nainital, Vivek Rai, and Sub Divisional Magistrate Monika of Kainchi Dham had personally appeared before the High Court, complying with orders from the State Election Commission.
In a significant development that brought relief to many, the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai, Justice Vinod Chandran, and Justice N V Anjaria on Monday put a stay on the High Court's July 18 order. The apex court also issued notices to the petitioner, Akash Bora, and 53 other individuals who were alleged to be non-residents of the state but included in the voter list.
The State Election Commission had promptly challenged the High Court's directive in the Supreme Court through a special leave petition, arguing its far-reaching implications.
"The Supreme Court has issued notices to the opposing parties," confirmed Sanjay Bhatt, advocate for the State Election Commission, underscoring the national attention the Nainital High Court's original order had garnered.
The broader debate ignited by the ruling goes beyond mere language proficiency. Nautiyal further elaborated that the relationship between English and Hindi "should not be positioned as a versus battle but rather instead of being competitive, it should be complementary; English and Hindi or else English or Hindi is the right way to go ahead in the coming years".
Dr Bhasin reiterated, "In our country, if someone knows Hindi, it is not right that their voice should not be heard." Kiran Kant pointed out the irony, particularly in the judiciary, "where even the 'Gita' oath during trials is taken in Hindi. This dispute should not have even come out of court."