Official Language of High Court

Why in news?

• A Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court has asked a journalist facing contempt of court proceedings to speak only in English as that was the language in the higher judiciary.

Official language of Courts:

• Constitutional provisions:
  • Article 348 (1) of the Constitution of India provides that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court shall be in English Language until Parliament by law otherwise provides.
  • Article 348 (2) states that the Governor can authorise the use of Hindi or any other language with the consent of the President for the proceedings of the High Court
• Official Languages Act, 1963:
  • Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, provides that the use of Hindi or official language of a State in addition to the English language may be authorized, with the consent of the President of India, by the Governor of the State for purpose of judgments etc. made by the High Court for that State.
• The provision of optional use of Hindi in proceedings has already been made in the High Courts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements:

1. Constitution provides that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court shall be in English Language

2. Constitution empowers the Governor to authorise the use of Hindi or any other language with the consent of the President for the proceedings of the High Court

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer