Lok Sabha Question No. 1596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Promotion of Hindi Language in Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1596

## TO BE ANSERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 10 TH  FEBRAUARY, 2021

## Promotion of Hindi Language in Courts

## +1596. SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

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

- (a) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to promote Hindi in the Courts;
- (b) the guidelines laid down by the Government to promote Hindi as the local language in the functioning of the courts;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make the judgements issued by the High  Courts  and  the  Supreme  Court  mandatory  available  in  local  and Hindi language; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) and (b):  Under Article 235 of the Constitution of India, the administrative control  over  the  district  and  subordinate  judiciary  in  the  States  vest  with  the concerned  High  Court.  Use  of  regional  language  in  lower  courts  is  a  subject matter of States.

Article  348(1)(a)  of  the  Constitution  states  that  proceedings  in  the Supreme Court and in every High Court, shall be in English language. Clause (2) of the Article 348 of the Constitution states that notwithstanding anything in sub-clause  (a)  of  clause  (1),  the  Governor  of  a  State  may,  with  the  previous consent of the President, authorize the use of the Hindi Language, or any other language used

for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State.

The Cabinet Committee's decision dated 21.05.1965 has stipulated that consent  of  the  Hon'ble  Chief  Justice  of  India  be  obtained  on  any  proposal relating to use of a language other than English in the High Court.

The  use  of  Hindi  in  proceedings  in  the  High  Court  of  Rajasthan  was authorized under clause (2) of Article 348 of the Constitution in 1950. After the Cabinet Committee's decision dated 21.05.1965 as mentioned above, the use of Hindi  was  authorized  in  the  High  Courts  of  Uttar  Pradesh  (1969),  Madhya Pradesh (1971) and Bihar (1972) in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

(c) and (d): At  present,  judgments  in  twelve  vernacular  languages  are  being translated  and  uploaded  on  the  website  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  India.  The twelve  languages  are:  Assamese,  Bengali,  Hindi,  Kannada,  Marathi,  Odiya, Tamil,  Telugu,  Urdu,  Nepali,  Malyalam  and  Punjabi.  The  translation  of judgments  relates  to  cases  arising  under  the  appellate  jurisdiction  of  the Supreme Court of India in relation to the following subject categories:

1. Labour matters;
2. Rent Act matters;
3. Land Acquisition and Requisition matters;
4. Service matters;
5. Compensation matters;
6. Criminal matters;
7. Family Law matters;
8. Ordinary Civil matters;
9. Personal Law matters;
10. Religious and Charitable Endowments matters;
11. Simple money and Mortgage Matters;
12. Eviction under the Public Premises (Eviction) Act matters;
13. Land Laws and Agriculture Tenancies; and
14. Matters relating to Consumer Protection.

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