Should higher courts conduct business in Indian languages, too?

Madurai bench has given oral permission for use of Tamil

GN Bureau | March 29, 2010



The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has given “oral permission” to two lawyers to argue their cases in Tamil. This is only an “oral permission” while English continues to be the only official language in the court through its 148-year-old history.

As one of the lawyers has pointed out, the legal fraternity sometimes feel the legal debate could have been qualitatively different but for their lack of command over English. If that is the case with lawyers, imagine the plight of their clients whose future is being debated in the courtroom and they have no clue what is being said. And yet our higher courts continue to transact their business in English.

English may have a case if there are any tangible benefits out of it. But benefits of allowing regional languages in the respective regions are obvious, such a move can take the process of justice to the last person.

Isn't it time the higher judiciary recognised Indian languages – at least where it is feasible to do so?

Comments

 

Other News

A right she cannot reach

Last summer, the two of us spent several weeks in rural Madhya Pradesh with a non-profit that works on gender justice through women’s self-help groups. We went in with a notebook full of laws. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The Dowry Prohibition Act. Free legal aid for every wo

Tier-2 cities lead India’s digital credit push

Digital payments have become a reflex for urban India, but the confidence earned in paying has not yet carried over to borrowing. That is the central finding of `How Urban India Pays Report 2026`, released by Pahlé India Foundation in collaboration with Amazon Pay. Based on a survey of 5,149 consu

India calls for doubling bilateral trade with UK by 2030

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has called upon businesses in India and the United Kingdom to translate the opportunities created by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) into expanded trade, investment, partnerships and job creation. Addressing the Bu

Gandhian movement after Gandhi failed: Ram Guha

The Gandhian movement in India, after Gandhi’s death, failed, says Ramachandra Guha, and blames Vinoba Bhave for it. But the movement found new, fertile grounds around the world and succeeded in bringing about a change in South Africa, the US and elsewhere. It is high time it returned home. Of cour

When religion, politics and Bollywood come together

Tavleen Singh, noted journalist and political commentator, has turned to fiction, with her debut novel ‘The Actor’ (HaperCollins India). Set in the near future, it has a superstar, Amit Singh, turning to politics, when the political landscape is dominated by prime minister Guru Gaynendraj

Cabinet approves setting up of Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority

The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), called Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment within the broad domains of Transp

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter