Q. Consider the following statements:
1. A petition in any language other than English cannot be heard in the Supreme Court of India.
2. The judgements and orders of high courts cannot be in any language other than English.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Constitution of India states that, until Parliament provides otherwise, all proceedings in the Supreme Court are to be in the English language only. The Parliament has not made any provision for the use of Hindi in the Supreme Court. Hence, the Supreme Court hears only those who petition or appeal in English.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Constitution of India states that, until Parliament provides otherwise, all proceedings in high courts are to be in the English language only. Later the parliament passed the Official Languages Act of 1963, which enables the governor of a state, with the previous consent of the president, to authorise the use of Hindi or any other official language of the state for judgements, decrees and orders passed by the high court of the state. But these should be accompanied by an English translation.
