“We South Indians Do Not Want To Be Excluded Because We Do Not Know Hindi,” Says SC Judge B.V. Nagarathna

Supreme Court judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, said that people from southern India should not feel isolated or excluded because they do not speak Hindi, and stressed the need for moderation and inclusivity in linguistic practices within the legal system.

She was speaking at a panel discussion titled “WE: Women Empowerment in Law — Strength, Struggle and Success,” organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Her remarks came during an interactive segment after a woman lawyer asked Chief Justice of India Surya Kant what steps were being taken to support advocates who are proficient in regional languages but do not know English.

Responding to the exchange, Justice Nagarathna said India must be seen in the context of its linguistic plurality rather than through the lens of a single dominant language.

“Let us see India as a subcontinent. We have so many languages recognised in the Eighth Schedule. In South India alone, there are at least six languages. We cannot be very exclusive about language,” she said.

She noted that English currently serves as a connecting language between regions with different linguistic identities. “What connects South Indian states among themselves is English. If I go to Tamil Nadu and no one speaks Hindi, how will I converse? If someone from Tamil Nadu goes to Karnataka where everyone speaks Kannada, how do they communicate? So let us not forget that,” she said.

Justice Nagarathna also drew a distinction between the role of language in trial courts and in constitutional courts. “In district courts, proceedings take place in regional languages such as Kannada, Tamil and others, and judges are appreciated for writing judgments in the local language. But when it comes to the Constitution and to the High Courts and Supreme Court, English is the official working language. Otherwise, how do we transfer judges from one court to another?” she said.

She emphasised that the discussion should not take a political tone and called for balance. “There must be moderation. We South Indians do not want to be isolated because we do not know Hindi.”

Earlier, Chief Justice Surya Kant had acknowledged the concern and said the judiciary must speak in a manner that people can understand. “Our law is in English, our procedure is in English. But the country has progressed, and our judicial system has progressed. We must speak in a language the person wants to listen to,” he said.

He added that while all languages must be encouraged, Hindi continues to hold emotional and cultural significance for many. “We will encourage all languages. But Hindi, being our national language, of course we feel pride in promoting it,” he said.

Panel discussion titled “WE — Women Empowerment in Law: on Strength, Struggle and Success,” organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)

Date: 3 December 2025