Question map
Under which law it is prescribed that all proceedings in the Supreme Court of India shall be in English language ?
Explanation
Article 348(1) of the Constitution of India explicitly mandates that until Parliament by law provides otherwise, all proceedings in the Supreme Court and every High Court shall be in the English language. This constitutional provision ensures uniformity in the higher judiciary's functioning. While Article 348(2) and the Official Languages Act, 1963, allow the Governor of a State, with the President's consent, to authorize the use of Hindi or other official languages in High Court proceedings, no such provision has been enacted for the Supreme Court [2]. Consequently, the Supreme Court continues to conduct all its business, including hearings, petitions, and judgments, exclusively in English [2]. Although Article 145 empowers the Supreme Court to make rules for regulating its practice and procedure, the fundamental requirement for the English language is rooted in Article 348 of the Constitution itself.
Sources
- [1] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > 466 INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA [CHAP. 33 > p. 468
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 73: Official Language > LANGUAGE OF THE JUDICIARY AND TEXTS OF LAWS > p. 542