Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Tamil Nadu Suspends Officials Over Hindi on Highway Signboard
A road sign in Sathankulam showed place names in Tamil, Hindi and English.
Tamil Nadu’s government says official signs should use only Tamil and English.
Some people objected to Hindi appearing so prominently, and the issue spread on social media.
The Hindi lettering was later removed.
Two Highways Department engineers were temporarily suspended.
The government also began departmental action against them.
It warned that officials could face tough action for similar policy violations.
Two Tamil Nadu Highways Department engineers were temporarily suspended over Hindi lettering on a directional signboard.
The sign was installed near the Thiruchendur Road junction in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district.
It listed destinations in Tamil, Hindi and English, with Hindi placed directly after Tamil.
The lettering drew criticism, spread on social media and prompted demands for an inquiry; it was later removed.
The government said the sign violated its Tamil-and-English-only policy, initiated departmental action and warned of tough action for future violations.
- Who
- An Assistant Executive Engineer and an Assistant Engineer in the Tamil Nadu Highways Department were suspended.
- What
- They were suspended after Hindi appeared on a State Highway directional signboard, which the government said breached its Tamil-and-English-only policy.
- When
- The government announced the suspensions on Friday; the report was published October 2, 2026.
- Where
- Near the Thiruchendur Road junction in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The government said the Hindi lettering violated its official two-language policy; the sign also drew public criticism.
Critics of the Hindi lettering
Government policy and response
Use of Hindi on the sign
Critics of the Hindi lettering
Critics, including DMK president M. K. Stalin and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, condemned the sign and questioned whether the state government was promoting Hindi imposition.
Government policy and response
The government said the Hindi wording contravened its official policy requiring only Tamil and English and took action against the responsible officials.
- Officials affected
- An Assistant Executive Engineer and an Assistant Engineer
- Department
- Tamil Nadu Highways Department
- Sign location
- Near the Thiruchendur Road junction in Sathankulam
- District
- Thoothukudi
- Languages shown
- Tamil, Hindi and English, in that order
- Government policy
- Official signs should use Tamil and English
- Actions taken
- Hindi lettering was removed; the engineers were suspended and departmental action was initiated
- Publication date
- October 2, 2026
