Supreme Court Orders Rajasthani Language in All Schools: A Landmark 2026 Judgment
Padam Mehta v. State of Rajasthan (2026 INSC 476) — Mother tongue education is now a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a)
Supreme Court Orders Rajasthani Language in All Schools: A Landmark 2026 Judgment
Case: Padam Mehta v. State of Rajasthan (2026 INSC 476) | Date of Judgment: 12 May 2026
At a Glance
On 12 May 2026, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment directing the Rajasthan government to formally recognise Rajasthani as a regional language and introduce it as a subject in all government and private schools in a phased manner. For nearly 4.36 crore Rajasthani speakers, this is not just a legal victory — it is a long-overdue constitutional acknowledgement of their mother tongue.
Background of the Case
The matter began with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Padam Mehta and another. The petitioners had two principal demands:
Include the Rajasthani language in the syllabus of the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) 2021
Provide primary education to children in Rajasthani or relevant local dialects
The petition raised a sharp question — when the REET syllabus already included Gujarati, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Urdu, why was Rajasthan's own Rajasthani being excluded?
What Happened in the High Court?
The Rajasthan High Court dismissed the petition on 27 November 2024, holding that this was an "educational policy" matter and that a writ of mandamus could not be issued without establishing an enforceable legal right and a corresponding statutory duty on the State.
The petitioners then approached the Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution.
The Bench and Its Observations
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
The Court made a particularly powerful observation:
"The ability to understand and be understood in one's own language is not a matter of convenience, but a matter of existential rights, for comprehension must necessarily precede meaningful participation in society and day-to-day life activities."
The Court firmly rejected the State's argument that "only languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution can be taught in schools." The bench described this stance as "pedantic" — overly technical and disconnected from ground reality.
The Court also pointed out that Rajasthani is already being taught at Jai Narain Vyas University, Maharaja Ganga Singh University, and the University of Rajasthan — meaning the question of "academic acceptance" was already settled long ago.
The Constitutional Foundation: A Confluence of Three Articles
The Supreme Court anchored the right to mother tongue education in the confluence of three constitutional provisions:
Article | Relevance |
|---|---|
Article 19(1)(a) | Freedom of speech and expression — which inherently includes the right to understand and be understood in one's own language |
Article 21A | Right to education — meaningful only if instruction is intelligible to the child |
Article 350A | Facilities for mother-tongue instruction at the primary stage for linguistic minorities |
The Court accepted that Rajasthani speakers constitute a "linguistic minority" within the State, given that Hindi is the official language under the Rajasthan Official Language Act, 1956.
Key Directions Issued by the Supreme Court
The State of Rajasthan has been ordered to:
Frame a comprehensive policy for mother-tongue-based education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Recognise Rajasthani with due status as a local/regional language for educational purposes
Introduce Rajasthani as a subject in all government and private schools in a phased manner
Adopt Rajasthani as a medium of instruction initially at the foundational and preparatory stages of schooling, and progressively at higher levels
File a compliance affidavit by 25 September 2026
Next hearing scheduled for 30 September 2026 to review compliance
Why This Judgment Is Historic
1. A new scope for linguistic rights: For the first time, the Supreme Court has unambiguously linked mother-tongue education to Article 19(1)(a). This will serve as a precedent not just for Rajasthani, but for every non-scheduled language in India.
2. The Eighth Schedule wall is broken: States have long used the excuse that "we only teach languages listed in the 8th Schedule." This judgment puts an end to that defence.
3. The identity question of Rajasthani: The demand to include Rajasthani in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution has been pending for decades. This verdict gives that movement fresh momentum.
4. NEP 2020 gets teeth: The National Education Policy 2020 strongly advocated mother-tongue-based education, but ground implementation had been slow. This judgment provides the legal force needed to push it forward.
What Lies Ahead?
All eyes are now on the Rajasthan government. By 25 September 2026, the State must clarify:
When will the policy be framed?
When and in what form will Rajasthani begin in schools?
What is the plan for recruiting and training teachers?
Who will prepare the textbooks?
A practical challenge lies in the fact that Rajasthani has several dialects — Marwari, Mewari, Dhundhari, Hadoti, Shekhawati, Bagri, and others. How the policy accommodates all these varieties will be the real test.
Conclusion
From Bikaner to Banswara, from Jaipur to Jaisalmer — every child deserves the right to read, think, and dream in their own language. That is the true essence of this judgment. The 4.36 crore Rajasthani speakers have waited decades for this moment. The ball is now in the government's court — not just to file a compliance affidavit, but to deliver real, visible change on the ground.
As the Court put it — language is not merely a medium of communication; it is a question of existence itself.
Case Citation
Padam Mehta and Another v. State of Rajasthan and Others
Civil Appeal @ SLP (C) No. 1425 of 2025
Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 476 | 2026 LiveLaw (SC) 492
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
For the appellants: Dr. Manish Singhvi (Senior Advocate), Apurv Singhvi, D. K. Devesh (AOR)
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