Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India to examine a request for providing enumeration forms in Urdu during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The forms would apply in areas where at least 20 percent of the population speaks the language.
The judge noted that courts generally avoid intervening in ECI decisions and inquired about similar actions taken in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. The petition, filed by a social worker from Karimnagar district, challenges the exclusive use of Telugu on the forms.
ECI counsel Avinash Desai stated that forms were printed in Telugu because it is the official state language. English versions are supplied in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area. Officials had earlier agreed to use English in Hyderabad for voter convenience, while directing booth-level staff to carry limited Urdu dummy forms for those who need them.
Petitioner counsel V. Raghunath argued that relying on dummy forms violates constitutional requirements. The ECI side countered that printing in multiple languages would impose extra costs. The court adjourned the matter for one week.
