Use of Hindi in higher judiciary not possible due to CJI's feedback

Hindi is currently being used in high courts of four states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, on Tuesday while speaking during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha  said that currently Hindi is being used in high courts of four states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.

However, the use of Hindi in the Supreme Court and other high courts has not been made compulsory due to negative feedback from the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The issue has not moved forward since then.

Replying to a supplementary that Hindi is not used in Patna High Court, Rijiju said,"If that was the case, it is a serious matter and the MPs of the state should take up the issue with the Governor and the Chief Minister of Bihar."

The Minister said government is in favour of promotion and expansion of Hindi and all other regional languages.

He said," The department of official languages receives complaints regarding reply given in English to communications received in Hindi, off and on by central government organisations. As per the received data, 99.4% letters received in Hindi have been replied to in Hindi only. Therefore, the cases of violation are negligible. Similarly some complaints have been received in the department regarding issuance of press release in English only."

Rijiju said that such complaints are forwarded to the administrative head of the concerned organisation for action as per rules.