Kashmir

HC rejects PIL seeking to make Hindi as official language in J&K, Ladakh

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to make Hindi as official language in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Bar and Bench reported.

A bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul while hearing the PIL said the subject of the PIL squarely comes within the domain and powers of the executive.

“The subject matter of the PIL squarely comes within the domain and powers of the executive, therefore, we dispose of this PIL with direction to the petitioner to approach the competent authority/forum for seeking the relief as claimed in plea,” the order said.

The PIL was filed by one Jagdev Singh seeking recognition of Hindi language as the official language in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the Union Territory of Ladakh in tune with the mandate of Articles 343 and 251 of the Constitution of India.

Prior to abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcation of J&K state by Centre on August 5, 2019, the official language of the erstwhile J&K State was Urdu and all the official records including Revenue, Police, Acts, and Rules made by the Legislative Assembly are either in Urdu or in English.