A video from May 2023 resurfaced showing a heated argument in Patna High Court where a judge dismissed a case citing difficulty with Hindi, while the lawyer protested his own struggle with English. The incident highlights language barriers and sparks calls for judicial reforms in India.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal shared that more than 78,000 Supreme Court judgments have been translated into Hindi and regional languages using AI. He explained how AI is helping in areas like translation, better administration, natural language processing (NLP), automated case filing, scheduling, case details systems, and chatting with litigants through chatbots.
The Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition to conduct court proceedings in Hindi, emphasizing the constitutional mandate of English as the official language. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud questioned the rationale for prioritizing Hindi and reaffirmed the importance of Article 348, ensuring consistency in legal matters amidst India’s linguistic diversity.
Today, On 19th September, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud revealed that approximately 37,000 Supreme Court judgments have been translated into Hindi since 1947, with ongoing translations into other regional languages. This initiative aims to increase legal accessibility. The e-SCR project offers free digital access to judgments, enhancing usage of neutral citations in legal practice.
![[Sub-Classification Within SC/ST] "No Error Apparent on the Face of the Record': SC Dismisses Petitions Seeking Review Of Its Sub-Quota Judgment](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/News-on-AIR.png?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
The Supreme Court of India reinforced the use of English as the official language for court proceedings, raising concerns about the growing use of Hindi. This has sparked debates about language inclusivity in the legal system. The bench made it clear that all proceedings must be conducted in English unless specified otherwise by Parliament, with the Chief Justice also advocating for the use of regional languages to enhance justice delivery.
The Supreme Court Bar Association has made history by issuing circulars in Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, and Assamese for the first time. This pioneering move aims to enhance accessibility and inclusivity within the legal community and reflects a commitment to linguistic diversity. Plans for additional languages in future communications have also been announced.
