News: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Haryana government’s decision to enforce use of Hindi language in all lower courts and tribunals across the state.
Facts:
Constitutional Provisions Related to the Issue:
- Article 348(1): It 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): It says that Governor of the State may with the previous consent of the President authorize the use of the Hindi language or any other official language of the state in the proceedings of the High Court
- However, the decrees, judgments or orders passed by such High Courts must continue to be in English only (until Parliament otherwise provides).
- Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963: It enables the governor of the state with the previous consent of the president to authorise the use of Hindi or any other official language of the state in the decrees, judgments or orders passed by such High Courts but they should be accompanied by an English Translation.
- 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.
