Google apologises for portraying Kannada as the “ugliest language,” and a petition in the Karnataka High Court is withdrawn
On Wednesday, the Karnataka High Court dismissed as withdrawn a petition seeking to initiate legal action against Google India after a search on the platform revealed Kannada to be the “ugliest language in India.”
“The petition has been filed against Google India Private Limited as well as other respondents, stating that on Google some derogatory remark has been made in respect of Kannada language,” a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum noted. The petitioner has provided a copy of the newspaper clipping.
The petitioner claims that Google India later apologized for the content displayed on the website, assuring that such incidents will not occur in the future,” according to Bar and Bench.
The petitioner, the Anti Corruption Council of India Trust, had asked the court to order the company to pay a Rs 10 crore compensation for lowering/tarnishing/defaming the dignity and significance of the Kannada language, which would be deposited with the Department of Culture and Heritage, Government of Karnataka.
It was later persuaded to withdraw the petition after Google India apologised.
“At this stage, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner requests that the petition be withdrawn with the liberty to pursue other legal remedies.” The PIL is dismissed in the terms stated above,” the Bench stated, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
Several users pointed out in June 2021 that Kannada appeared as the result of a search for the phrase “ugliest language in India.” Following this, there was widespread outrage on social media, with many state political leaders joining in to condemn Google.
