The Supreme Court of India recently heard a petition that sought to mandate the use of Hindi as an official language for the country's highest court. Currently, English serves as the official language for all proceedings in the Supreme Court under Article 348 of the Indian Constitution.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, presiding over the bench, rejected the plea. The court's reasoning centered on the limitations of judicial authority regarding administrative and constitutional policy. The Chief Justice emphasized that such a fundamental shift in the operational language of the judiciary is not a matter that can be implemented via a judicial order. The court indicated that changes of this nature would require broader legislative or constitutional processes rather than a directive from the bench.

While the petition aimed to increase accessibility for Hindi speakers, the court maintained that the current legal framework necessitates the continued use of English. The rejection underscores the judiciary's stance on maintaining existing procedural standards until a formal, systemic change is enacted by the appropriate governing bodies. No further legal avenues for this specific request were outlined by the court during the brief hearing.