Allow use of Tamil language in Madras HC: Panneerselvam

Says if the administration of justice has to be taken genuinely closer to the people, then it is absolutely imperative that the local language is used in the High Court

Tamil Nadu today reiterated its demand to authorise the use of Tamil language in Madras high court and urged the Centre to reconsider its stand on the issue.

Delivering his address at the joint conference of chief ministers and Chief Justices of high courts, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam also stressed the independence and the image of the judiciary should always be upheld by providing necessary infrastructure and ensuring a conducive environment.

“If we are to take the administration of justice genuinely closer to the people, then it is absolutely imperative that the local language is used in the high court, as is already being done in the state government and in the state Legislature,” he said.

“Our government urges the Government of India and the Supreme Court to reconsider their stand in this matter and fulfil the long standing aspiration and demand of the state to authorise the use of Tamil in the high court of Madras,” the chief minister said.

He further said repeated requests to authorise the use of Tamil in the high court of Madras have not been responded to favourably. The state government, Panneerselvam said, has proposed that all prisons and criminal courts in the state are equipped with video conferencing facilities to do away with the need for production of accused for remand hearings.

Sanction has been accorded for video conferencing facilities in 169 locations including prisons and jails and 352 courts in this state, he added.

The chief minister also said that pursuant to the rape and death of a young woman in New Delhi two years ago, a fresh set of strong measures for protection of women by which investigation of cases relating to sexual violence against women is carried out by women police under the direct supervision of a Deputy Superintendent of Police was announced.

“Forty-two fast track mahila courts have been set up to cover all the districts in the state to try offences against women. Special training seminars on the provision of laws for the protection of women and proper method of investigating sexual crimes are being imparted in the Police Training Institutions,” he said.