'Details Of Number Of Judgements Given In Hindi Not Maintained Centrally', Home Ministry

The response came on the question raised by MPs Keshari Devi Patel and Kanakmal Katara seeking the details of directions issued by the Government to promote the use of Hindi in the courts and to write judgements in Hindi along with the number of judgements given in Hindi.

The question also sought details of steps taken by the Government to promote the use of Hindi in High Courts and the Supreme Court.

It was stated that Article 348(1)(a) of the Constitution of India states that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court, shall be in English language. It was added that Article 348(2) states that 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.

Further, the Ministry respondent that Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963 states that the Governor of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorize the use of Hindi or the official language of the State, in addition to the English language, for the purposes of any judgement, decree or order passed or made by the High Court for that State and where any judgement, decree or order is passed or made in any such language (other than the English language), it shall be accompanied by a translation of the same in the English language issued under the authority of the High Court.

Keshari Devi Patel and Kanakmal Katara had also asked the following questions:

"(c) whether it is a fact that Hindi has failed to get its due place in High Courts and the Supreme Court despite several directions issued by the Government in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to take this issue seriously and issue necessary directions in this regard and if so, the details thereof?"

In this regard, it was stated that 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 Courts.

In addition to this, the Ministry responded that the use of Hindi in proceedings in the High Court of Rajasthan was authorized under Article 348(2) of the Constitution in 1950. It was added that after the aforesaid Cabinet Committee's decision, 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.