Lucknow, Dec 25, 2025: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday raised concerns over the language used in court proceedings, urging greater linguistic inclusivity in the justice delivery system. His remarks came in the context of the Unnao rape case, after the survivor reportedly expressed distress that legal arguments in her case were conducted in English, a language she does not fully understand.

Taking to social media platform X, Yadav shared a media report highlighting the survivor’s concern and wrote in Hindi, “Insaf ki zubaan samajh aane se hi insaf hoga,” underscoring that justice can only be meaningful when those seeking it are able to comprehend the proceedings. He described linguistic inclusion as a decisive factor in ensuring fairness and transparency in the judicial process.

In the same post, Yadav reiterated the point in English, stating that the dispensation of justice depends on the use of a language understandable to all parties involved. According to him, linguistic inclusivity is not merely a procedural preference but a determinative element in the true administration of justice.

Context of the Remarks

Yadav’s comments follow a significant development in the Unnao rape case involving former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. On December 23, the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar’s life sentence in the rape case, noting that he had already served seven years and five months in prison. The suspension will remain in force during the pendency of Sengar’s appeal against his conviction and sentence, which stem from a December 2019 trial court verdict.

While granting relief, the High Court imposed strict conditions. Sengar was directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount. The court also barred him from coming within a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s residence in Delhi and from contacting or threatening the survivor or her mother. Any violation of these conditions, the court warned, would result in the cancellation of bail.

Despite the suspension of his sentence in the rape case, Sengar will continue to remain in jail as he is also serving a separate 10-year sentence in connection with the custodial death of the survivor’s father. He has not been granted bail in that case.

A Case That Shook the Nation

The Unnao rape case has remained one of the most high-profile and disturbing criminal cases in recent years. It drew nationwide attention in 2018 after the survivor accused Sengar of kidnapping and raping her when she was a minor. Over the course of the trial, the survivor and her family repeatedly alleged harassment, intimidation, and threats, leading to heightened demands for protection and a fair, unbiased investigation.

The Supreme Court had earlier intervened by transferring the trial from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi to ensure the safety of the survivor and witnesses and to guarantee a fair judicial process.

Broader Debate on Language and Justice

Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks have reignited a broader debate on accessibility within India’s judicial system, particularly for victims and litigants from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Legal experts and activists have long argued that proceedings conducted primarily in English can alienate victims, especially in sensitive cases involving sexual violence, where understanding each stage of the process is critical for emotional and psychological assurance.

By calling for hearings in a language “people understand,” Yadav positioned linguistic accessibility as integral to justice itself, not merely an administrative convenience. His statement reflects growing calls for reforms that make the legal system more inclusive, humane, and responsive to the needs of those it is meant to serve.