Why Can’t The Supreme Court Just Switch To Hindi Overnight?
Imagine walking into the country’s highest court and listening to arguments in a language you speak every day. For millions of Indians, that sounds like a great step toward making justice more accessible. Recently, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court asking for exactly this: a directive to set up a special commission to examine making Hindi an official language of the apex court.
However, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, firmly dismissed the petition. The bench made it clear that massive structural changes like this cannot be forced through simple court orders. Instead, reforms of this magnitude require deep constitutional changes and a slow, phased approach.
What The Court Said During The Hearing
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer insisted that the court should at least direct the government or authorities to constitute a commission to look into the matter. Justice V Mohana quickly pointed out the core hurdle. She asked the counsel how the court could bypass the foundational rules, noting that such a step effectively asks for a constitutional amendment.
CJI Surya Kant emphasized that language reforms are already happening naturally and gradually. The Supreme Court has started providing brief descriptions of rulings and reports in Hindi, with plans to expand into other regional languages over time. The bench stressed that while they deeply respect and want to preserve regional cultures and languages, judicial forums cannot rewrite constitutional boundaries on command.
What The Law Says: Understanding Article 348
If you are wondering why the court cannot simply adopt Hindi or other regional languages, the answer lies directly within the text of the Constitution of India. Article 348(1)(a) explicitly mandates that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court across the country must be conducted in the English language.
There is a narrow window for state-level exceptions under Article 348(2), which allows the Governor of a state to authorize the use of Hindi or any other regional language for proceedings in their respective High Courts, provided they get prior consent from the President. However, the Constitution does not carve out any such exception or power for the Supreme Court itself, which is why altering the language of the apex court requires a formal constitutional amendment passed by Parliament.
What Happens Next And Why It Matters For You
With the dismissal of this PIL, English remains the exclusive official language for all hearings, judgments, and formal proceedings inside the Supreme Court. For everyday citizens and young law students, this case highlights the strict division of powers between the judiciary and the legislature. Courts interpret and apply the law as written, while major structural alterations to national institutions require lawmakers in Parliament to amend the Constitution itself.
Even though courtroom proceedings remain in English, the Supreme Court continues to take phased steps to bridge the language gap. Initiatives like providing case summaries and report overviews in regional languages show a steady commitment to reaching everyday citizens without violating constitutional mandates.
Story reported by Barandbench. This article is BareLaw’s independent explanation and analysis.
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