Parliament Question: Use of Official and Regional Languages in Courts

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3653 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13th MARCH, 2026 USE OF OFFICIAL AND REGIONAL LANGUAGES IN COURTS †3653. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the scheme by the Government for the use of the Official language and regional languages in all courts across the country;

(b) whether any steps have been taken to provide affordable and accessible justice to the citizens of the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether there is any scheme to provide speedy justice and assistance to the citizens, particularly the poor, labourers and other vulnerable sections in the country, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a): Article 348(1)(a) of the Constitution of India states that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court, shall be in English language. Clause (2) of the Article 348 of the Constitution states that notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (a) of clause (1), the Governor of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorize the use of Hindi Language, or any other language used for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State.

1The Cabinet Committee’s decision dated 21.05.1965 has stipulated that consent of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India be obtained on any proposal relating to use of a language other than English in the High Court.

The use of Hindi in the proceedings of High Court of Rajasthan was authorized under clause

(2) of Article 348 of the constitution in 1950. After the Cabinet Committee’s decision dated

21.05.1965 as mentioned above, the use of Hindi was authorized in the High Courts of Uttar Pradesh (1969), Madhya Pradesh (1971) and Bihar (1972) in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

Government of India had received proposals from the Government of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Karnataka to permit use of Tamil, Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali and Kannada in the proceedings of the Madras High Court, Gujarat High Court, Chhattisgarh High Court, Calcutta High Court and Karnataka High Court respectively. The advice of Chief Justice of India was sought on these proposals and it was intimated that the Full Court of the Supreme Court after due deliberations, decided not to accept the proposals.

Under Article 235 of the Constitution of India, administrative control over District and Subordinate Courts is vested in the respective High Courts. Accordingly, the use of Hindi or any regional language in District and Subordinate Courts is generally decided by the concerned High Court and the State Government in consultation with each other and implemented within their jurisdiction.

(b) and (c): Government is implementing different scheme for ensuring affordable and accessible justice to the citizen. The Scheme of “Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA)” aims to strengthen the access to justice for all citizens, in alignment with the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987.

Under the component Tele-Law, citizens are connected with panel lawyers to obtain pre- litigation legal advice through video or tele-conferencing using a network of about 2.50 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) operating at the Gram Panchayat level across 777 districts, including 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks, in 36 States/UTs. As on

28.02.2026, more than 1.12 crore pre-litigation advices have been provided under the programme.

2Through the component of Nyaya Bandhu, a pro bono culture is being promoted among advocates, law students. Under this programme, pro bono Advocates provides free legal assistance and representation in the courts to the eligible beneficiaries under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987. As on 28.02.2026, 10,263 advocates have been registered under the programme.

The Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme promotes partnerships with Ministries, Departments, institutions and schools for capacity building of grassroots legal workers and dissemination of legal awareness/literacy. As on 28.02.2026, the programme has reached 1,21,48,172 beneficiaries. Further, the Government is also implementing the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS), a Central Sector Scheme through NALSA since FY 2023– 24 to provide legal representation in criminal cases to beneficiaries eligible under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987. As on 31.12.2025, LADC offices are functional in 680 districts across the country. Under the scheme, 8,71,581 cases have been disposed of against 12,62,857 assigned cases, and 2,76,476 Under-Trial Prisoners (UTPs) have been provided legal representation, resulting in the release of 59,630 UTPs during FY 2025–26 ( upto December

2025).

In addition to these Scheme, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides free and competent legal services to weaker sections of society. Legal Services Institutions have been established from the Taluk level to the Supreme Court, including the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), 38 High Court Legal Services Committees, 37 State Legal Services Authorities, 715 District Legal Services Authorities and 2,475 Taluk Legal Services Committees. Their activities include legal aid and advice, legal awareness programmes, legal services clinics, legal literacy clubs, Lok Adalats and implementation of the Victim Compensation Scheme.

During FY 2025–26 (upto January 2026), 16,60,249 persons have been provided free legal aid and advice, and 4,91,990 legal awareness programmes/camps have been organized, attended by 4,04,59,246 persons.

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