New Delhi, September 25, 2026: The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre to constitute a commission to examine and recommend the adoption of Hindi as the official language of the apex court.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana heard the plea filed by Brahmeshwar Nath Mishra. The petitioner had sought the creation of a commission that could examine the issue and make recommendations regarding the use of Hindi in the Supreme Court.
The bench said language-related reforms were already being undertaken through administrative processes and could not be introduced through judicial directions.
Supreme Court Says Language Reforms Will Be Gradual
During the hearing, the CJI indicated that the Supreme Court was already taking steps to make judicial information more accessible in Hindi and other Indian languages.
The court noted that it was providing brief descriptions of judgments and reports in Hindi and would gradually extend such initiatives to other regional languages. The CJI also emphasised the importance of respecting India’s linguistic diversity.
The bench made it clear that changes of this nature would need to take place through institutional and administrative reforms rather than being imposed through a court order.
PIL Sought Commission on Hindi Language
The petition filed by Brahmeshwar Nath Mishra asked the Centre to constitute a commission to examine the possibility of making Hindi the official language of the Supreme Court.
Counsel appearing for the petitioner referred to constitutional provisions while arguing that the Centre could be directed to establish such a panel.
However, the bench observed that the relief sought in the petition would effectively involve changes to the existing constitutional and legislative framework. The counsel nevertheless requested that the court at least direct the Centre to constitute a commission.
The bench declined the request and dismissed the PIL.
Supreme Court Expanding Hindi Public Information
The development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Supreme Court to expand access to judicial information in Indian languages.
The court has recently introduced a Hindi public information service providing simplified Hindi summaries of selected important judgments and orders, along with Hindi audio and video bulletins. The initiative is intended to make important judicial information easier for citizens and litigants to understand.
The Supreme Court has also indicated that similar language-access initiatives would be extended to other Indian languages in a phased manner.
What the Court’s Decision Means
The dismissal of the PIL does not amount to a judicial declaration that Hindi cannot be used for information or other purposes by the Supreme Court. Rather, the bench declined to direct the Centre to establish the proposed commission through judicial orders.
The court’s observations underline a distinction between expanding public access to judicial information in Indian languages and formally changing the language framework governing the Supreme Court.
The existing constitutional framework concerning the language of proceedings remains in place. Article 348 provides for the use of English in proceedings of the Supreme Court and High Courts, subject to the constitutional and legislative framework governing any changes.
