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Title: Need to make Tamil as an official language in the Madras High Court.
SHRI P. MOHAN (MADURAI) : Under Article 348 (2) of our Constitution and also under Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, the High Courts in the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have been permitted to have proceedings conducted and pronouncements delivered in the official l
another language of their High court. A Resolution on 6th of December last was unanimously passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to introduce Tamil language also in the proceedings of Madras High Court. His Excellency, the Governor of Tamil Nadu has given his accord to this and has forwarded this to His
Excellency, the President of India for his approval. The High Court of Madras has
*English translation of the speech originally delivered in Tamil.
also notionally accepted this. Madras High Court has indicated that Tamil will also be a court language after its being assented to by the President of India. At this juncture, the Union Government has sent a letter to Tamil Nadu denying permission to have Tamil also as a language of the High Court of Madras thereby rejecting the unanimous Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. This is highly improper and inappropriate. I would like to point out that the Tamil Nadu Assembly Resolution clearly points out that English will continue to be the court language in addition to Tamil, the classical and national language. The sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu to have High Court judgements in Tamil must be respected. The accused and the litigants connected in the cases and the ordinary citizens have a right to listen to the proceedings and have access to the judgements concerning their lives. In order to uphold the rights of those people of India living in Tamil Nadu, the Union Government may initiate suitable steps to obtain the Presidential nod making Tamil also a court language of Madras High Court.