27/09/2025
In a significant ruling, the Sikkim High Court has directed the reinstatement of several important Nepali consonants “ण, श, ष, ड़, ढ़, क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, in educational materials across the state to safeguard the authenticity of the Nepali language.
The order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Shri Dhan Raj Gurung, a resident of Pakyong, who highlighted the removal of the dot (़) from the letter ‘ड़’, effectively reducing it to ‘ड’ in textbooks. He argued that such omissions distort pronunciation and compromise the originality of the script.
A report submitted by a court-appointed Linguistic Oversight Expert Committee supported Gurung’s concerns, stressing that the excluded characters are essential for the phonetic and academic accuracy of the language.
The Court, led by Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, ruled that:
Sikkim University must ensure the immediate correction of affected books, and reject any textbook whose authors do not comply.
The Expert Committee will continue to monitor the use of Nepali in schools, universities, publications, and media.
The State Government must fully cooperate with the committee to support the preservation effort.
This judgment is seen as a major win for the Nepali-speaking community, reaffirming the language’s constitutional, cultural, and educational importance in Sikkim.
Video Courtesy: Dk Waiba