Hindi signboards trigger action against two highway officials in Thoothukudi
The Tamil Nadu government has suspended two officials from the State Highways Department after a newly erected road sign in Thoothukudi displayed place names in Hindi.
The issue came to light after videos circulated online showing a signboard on State Highway-93 near the recently completed Sathankulam–Nazareth road. The board carried Tamil, English and Hindi text.
The Hindi portion was subsequently removed, and the board was replaced with one containing Tamil and English. An order issued by Highways Director General R. Selvadurai on Thursday placed Assistant Divisional Engineer N. Boominathan and Assistant Engineer T. Muthulakshmi under suspension with immediate effect.
Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna said on Friday that an initial departmental inquiry had found that the board was installed in violation of Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy.
According to the minister, the government had acted promptly after the issue was reported, while a more detailed inquiry is still under way.
Arjuna reiterated the government’s commitment to the Tamil-English policy and warned that officials who violate the established policy would face departmental and legal action.
The incident also drew criticism from opposition leader and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He accused the TVK government of appearing to adopt an approach similar to the Union government’s Hindi-related policies, despite Tamil Nadu’s longstanding opposition to Hindi imposition.
Stalin urged the state government not to undermine the two-language policy and criticised what he described as repeated changes in the government’s position following public opposition.