The Supreme Court of India has firmly upheld a rule mandating proficiency in the Telugu language for candidates seeking the position of civil judge in Telangana. On April 28, 2025, a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih dismissed a plea challenging a previous order that validated the 2023 rule.
The petitioner, a practicing advocate, had contested the constitutionality of Rules 5.3 and 7(i) of the Telangana State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2023, arguing that requiring Telugu language proficiency was discriminatory. He proposed that proficiency in either Telugu or Urdu should suffice, given that Urdu is Telangana's second official language and is spoken by approximately 15% of the state's population. The petitioner also highlighted that he had cleared the qualifying examination. Furthermore, the petition sought a directive to allow candidates to demonstrate proficiency in either Telugu or Urdu, alongside providing options for translating between English and Telugu or Urdu in the written examination as per the 2023 Rules.
The Supreme Court bench, however, was unconvinced. When the petitioner's counsel argued that 15% of the Telangana population speaks Urdu, the court simply stated, "It (rule) only says you need to know Telugu.” The bench refused to further examine the plea and dismissed it.
The Telangana High Court had previously addressed the matter, stating that it is within the employer's purview to determine service conditions, eligibility, and qualifications. The High Court emphasized that the employer is best positioned to make these decisions and that judicial review in such matters is limited. It further noted that the rule in question was not arbitrary, discriminatory, or in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. The High Court also pointed out that the authorities' decision was a "policy decision" aimed at improving judicial administration and should not be overturned simply because another viewpoint exists. The Supreme Court echoed this sentiment by refusing to interfere with the High Court's decision.
Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid, representing the petitioner, argued that Urdu is recognized as a language of the Court in 31 out of 33 districts in Telangana. He submitted that while some level of Telugu proficiency might be rational, completely excluding Urdu-speaking individuals was not justified. Justice Gavai countered that the rule did not constitute exclusion, as it merely required candidates to also learn Telugu.
The High Court also noted that under previous rules from 2007, an exemption was granted to Civil Judges and District Judges, with the expectation that Telugu proficiency would be acquired at the Judicial Academy. However, the 2023 rule made it a prerequisite for selection. The Supreme Court's dismissal of the plea reinforces the importance of Telugu language proficiency for those aspiring to serve as civil judges in Telangana.
