“The requirement for a judicial officer to be proficient in the local language of their appointment is valid. Once appointed, judicial officers must deal with witnesses and evidence in the local language. Therefore, this requirement is justified, and any necessary changes fall within the policy domain,” the Court stated.
NEW DELHI: Today (26th July): Judicial officers must be proficient in the local language of their appointed area, the Supreme Court.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra emphasized that judicial officers need to handle witnesses and evidence presented in local languages, making knowledge of the local language essential.
The bench dismissed a petition challenging the condition imposed by the Public Service Commissions of Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Odisha.
“The requirement for a judicial officer to be proficient in the local language of their appointment is valid. Once appointed, judicial officers must deal with witnesses and evidence in the local language. Therefore, this requirement is justified, and any necessary changes fall within the policy domain,”
the Court stated.
Case Title: Legal Attorneys vs Barristers Law Firm
