The Allahabad High Court has directed that trial courts in Uttar Pradesh must write judgments entirely in Hindi or English, prohibiting bilingual judgments to ensure clarity and accessibility for ordinary litigants across the state.
UTTAR PRADESH: In a landmark directive, the Allahabad High Court has clarified that trial courts in Uttar Pradesh must write their judgments either entirely in Hindi or entirely in English. Writing judgments partially in Hindi and partially in English is not permitted.
The ruling was delivered by a bench of Justice Rajeev Misra and Justice Dr. Ajay Kumar-II while dismissing a criminal appeal in a dowry death case, where the informant challenged the acquittal of the accused husband.
The Court’s Decision
The Court emphasized that Uttar Pradesh is a predominantly Hindi-speaking state and that writing judgments in Hindi serves to ensure that ordinary litigants can understand the reasoning behind court decisions.
The bench cited a Sessions Court judgment from Agra as a “classic example” of improper practice:
- 54-page judgment
- 63 paragraphs in English
- 125 paragraphs in Hindi
- 11 paragraphs mixing both languages
According to the High Court, such bilingual judgments defeat the purpose of making legal decisions accessible to the general public.
The Court clarified that quoting passages from other judgments in a different language is permissible, provided a translation or explanation is included. Examples include:
- Quoting an English Supreme Court judgment in a Hindi judgment
- Quoting Hindi evidence or a dying declaration in an English judgment
This ensures that the reasoning remains comprehensible to all parties.
The High Court directed that its judgment be circulated to all judicial officers across the state. This move is expected to standardize the way judgments are written in trial courts and enhance transparency in judicial proceedings. By providing clear guidelines, the Court aims to ensure that judicial officers avoid confusion caused by mixed-language judgments and that the reasoning in every judgment is fully understandable to litigants.
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Case Background
The case involved the acquittal of a husband under Sections 498-A and 304-B of the IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The High Court found that the prosecution failed to prove essential elements of the offenses, including cruelty or harassment immediately before the death. The Court noted:
- Contradictory witness statements regarding dowry demands
- Evidence showing the accused acted in good faith, paying hospital bills and performing last rites
Hence, the trial court’s acquittal was upheld.
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