SC notice on plea seeking Hindi's use in higher judiciary

The Supreme Court Tuesday issued notice to the central government on a plea seeking amendment to the constitution's article 348 to provide that proceedings in the Supreme Court and in the high courts as well should be in Hindi instead of English.

"You want Hindi," observed a bench of Justice H.L.Dattu and Justice S.A. Bobde as they issued notice to the government on the plea by lawyer Shiv Sagar Tiwari.

The petitioner contended that English came to occupy the dominant position because the framers of Indian constitution were barristers or those who were well-acquainted with the English language and were its habitual users.

"The constitution was drafted in English because the committee members were habituated to speaking English and working in English," said Tiwari.

In his plea, he said that though article 343 talks about Hindi being the national language but "unfortunately Chapter III dealing with Supreme Court and high court in article 348 clearly says that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High court shall be in English language".

He said that although under article 349, the parliament was bound to bring an amendment for change of language in the Supreme Court 15 years after the commencement of the constitution but the same has not been done till date and people are forced to use English in the apex court.

The petition said that though the constitution has been amended 95 times till 2009 but the amendment to introduce Hindi as provided under article 343 has not been brought.