HC seeks DJ's reply on plea to quash ad for English stenos

The Delhi High Court today sought a reply from the District and Sessions Judge on a plea seeking quashing of an advertisement for appointment of 326 English stenographers in trial courts of the national capital.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal directed the counsel for District and Session Judge, Tis Hazari, to take instruction on what was the actual practice adopted in the subordinate courts with regard to the use of Hindi and English.
The bench asked them to produce the rules, if any, as the petitioners alleged that the work of the District Courts were to be carried out only in Hindi.

The court was hearing a plea by Delhi residents Atul Kothari and Nahar Singh Verma who have sought quashing of an advertisement issued in English for appointment to the post of English stenographers, alleging it was against the Delhi High Court rules and the mandate of Officials Language Act.
Advocate Umesh Sharma, appearing for the petitioners, sought direction for issuance of fresh advertisement for the appointment to the post of Hindi stenographers.
He submitted that the authorities should comply and adhere to Delhi High Court Rules and recruit stenographers in Hindi to the extent of 80 per cent as mandated, keeping in mind the mandate of the Constitution.

"Impugned act of the respondents is illegal on the face of it and in violation of the Delhi High Court Rules as the work of the District Courts is to be carried on only in Hindi and the appointment of the stenographers in English would make a compulsive use of the English language in the Delhi District Courts in violation of the Delhi High Court Rules.
"Delhi government has already decided that Hindi shall be its state language for all purposes, and accordingly, the subordinate courts also must promote and at least allow the use of Hindi... In the district courts and subordinate courts in Delhi," the plea said.