Lok Sabha Question No. 6162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Hindi as Official Court Language
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: HARISH DWIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6162

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 04 th  April, 2018

## Hindi as Official Court Language

- +6162 SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether Hindi has the status of an official language in the Supreme Court;
- (b) if so, whether hearing of cases in the Supreme Court takes place in Hindi and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) if not, whether the Government has any plans to ensure hearing of cases in the Supreme Court in Hindi also; and
- (d) if so, the details of the steps taken in this regard, so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI  RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d) :    Article 348(1)  of  the  Constitution  of  India provides  that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts shall be in English language until Parliament by law otherwise provides. Parliament has not made any law in this regard. Therefore, English continues to be the language for all proceedings of  the  Supreme  Court.  However,  the  Government,  in  accordance  with  the

provisions of Article 348 (2), and in consultation with the Supreme Court, has authorized use of Hindiin the proceedings of four High Courts namely,  Patna High Court, Allahabad High Court, Madhya Pradesh High Court and Rajasthan High Court.

The 18 th Law  Commission of India  in  its  216 th Report  on  'Nonfeasibility  of  introduction  of  Hindi  as  compulsory  language  in  the  Supreme Court  of  India'  (2008)  has,  after  detailed  discussions  with  all  stake-holders, inter-alia, recommended that at any rate no language should be thrust upon the Judges  of  the  higher  judiciary  and  they  should  be  left  free  to  deliver  their judgment in the  language  they  prefer.  It  is  important  to  remember  that  every citizen, every court has the right to understand the law laid down finally by the Apex Court and at present one should appreciate that such a language is only English.

In  accordance  with  the  decision  of  the  Cabinet  Committee  dated 21.05.1965, the Chief Justice of India is consulted before obtaining the consent of the President to any proposal relating to introduction of regional languages in the Supreme Court/ High Courts. The Chief Justice of India, had informed on 18.01.2016  that  the  Full  Court,  after  extensive  deliberations,  disapproved  the proposals relating to introduction of regional  languages  in  the  Supreme Court/High Courts and reiterated the Resolution which was adopted on 7 th May, 1997, and was reiterated on 15 th December, 1999, and on 11 th October, 2012.

Therefore, the matter of introduction of regional languages in the Supreme Court and High Courts is left to the judiciary as it is the best judge to decide if the time is ripe to take the step in that direction. Once the Government receives the consent of judiciary in this regard, further action, as appropriate, at the level of the Central Government and State Governments is taken.