Language of subordinate Courts
Full Text
(1) The language which, on the commencement of this Code, is the language of any Court subordinate to a High Court shall continue to be the language of such subordinate Court until the State Government otherwise directs.
(2) The State Government may declare what shall be the language of any such Court and in what character applications to and proceedings in such Courts shall be written.
(3) Where this Code requires or allows anything other than the recording of evidence to be done in writing in any such Court, such writing may be in English; but if any party or his pleader is unacquainted with English a translation into the language of the Court shall, at his request, be supplied to him; and the Court shall make such order as it thinks fit in respect of the payment of the costs of such translation.
Plain English Summary
Section 137 empowers the State Government to declare the official language and script of subordinate civil courts, while permitting pleadings and proceedings (other than evidence) to be submitted in English, subject to the right of non-English literate parties or pleaders to obtain translations at determined costs.
Key Legal Elements
- Continuity of Subordinate Court Language: Existing language at Code commencement continues until superseded by the State Government.
- State Government Prerogative: Exclusive executive power to designate the court language and script/character for civil proceedings and pleadings.
- Permissive Use of English: Filings, applications, and judgments (other than oral evidence) may be authored in English.
- Right to Translation: Guarantees translation into the local court language if a party or counsel is unacquainted with English, with costs ordered by the court.
Practical Note
State Language Policies, English Filings, and Right to Translation: 1. State Prerogative over Court Language: Under Section 137(2), states designate their local court language and script (e.g. Hindi in Devanagari script in UP, MP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana; Marathi in Maharashtra; Tamil in Tamil Nadu). 2. Validity of English Pleadings: Despite local language notifications, Section 137(3) explicitly permits advocates to file applications, written statements, plaints, and legal arguments in English. Subordinate courts cannot dismiss or reject pleadings solely because they are drafted in English. 3. Supply of Translations: If the opposite party or their counsel is not conversant with English, Section 137(3) mandates that the court must provide an official translation in the court's vernacular language, fixing transcription costs to be borne as the court directs.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) वह भाषा, जो इस संहिता के प्रारंभ पर किसी उच्च न्यायालय के अधीनस्थ किसी न्यायालय की भाषा है, ऐसे अधीनस्थ न्यायालय की भाषा तब तक बनी रहेगी जब तक कि राज्य सरकार अन्यथा निदेश न दे।
(2) राज्य सरकार यह घोषित कर सकेगी कि ऐसे किसी न्यायालय की भाषा क्या होगी और ऐसे न्यायालयों में आवेदन और कार्यवाहियां किस लिपि (Character/Script) में लिखी जाएंगी।
(3) जहां यह संहिता साक्ष्य को अभिलिखित किए जाने से भिन्न किसी बात को ऐसे किसी न्यायालय में लिखित रूप में किए जाने की अपेक्षा करती है या अनुज्ञा देती है, वहां ऐसा लेखन अंग्रेजी में किया जा सकेगा; किंतु यदि कोई पक्षकार या उसका प्लीडर अंग्रेजी से अनभिज्ञ है, तो उसके अनुरोध पर उसे न्यायालय की भाषा में उसका अनुवाद उपलब्ध कराया जाएगा; और न्यायालय ऐसे अनुवाद के खर्चों के संदाय के संबंध में ऐसा आदेश करेगा जैसा वह उचित समझे।