PIL for use of other official languages in govt offices; HC seeks Centre, Delhi govt stand

The Delhi High Court has asked for the AAP government's response on a plea seeking use of official languages, including Punjabi and Urdu, in the offices of all the authorities and public utilities in the national capital territory.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar also issued notice to the Centre and sought its stand on the petition which has claimed that use of all the official languages has been mandated as per various statutes and the Constitution.

"Presently, all the statutory and Constitutional mandates are being deliberately ignored by the respondents (Centre and Delhi government) resulting in the violation of the legal and Constitutional rights of the persons who do not know how to read and write any other language other than the official languages," the PIL said.

This results in such persons not being able to effectively avail the services of public utilities, the petition by Delhi resident Surjit Kaur said.

The Centre, represented by the central ..