New Delhi

Supreme Court judge B V Nagarathna on Wednesday said South Indians “do not want to be isolated” because they do not know Hindi, stressing that India’s linguistic diversity requires moderation and inclusivity.

Speaking at an SCBA event, Justice Nagarathna said India is a “subcontinent” with many languages, and English connects southern states where regional languages dominate. She noted communication challenges in states like Tamil Nadu, adding that constitutional courts use English to enable judge transfers across high courts.

Her remarks came after CJI Surya Kant responded to a question on accommodating lawyers who know local languages but not English. He said courts must be sensitive to litigants’ languages and break inhibitions around using them.

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Justice Nagarathna also spoke about challenges faced by women in the legal profession, calling for institutional support, equal opportunities, and more women in government law offices. She recalled her own early struggles starting practice in Bengaluru and said families and seniors play a crucial role in women’s legal careers.