Constitution 210 — Language to be used in the Legislature

The Constitution of India, 1950

Statutory text

(1) Notwithstanding
anything in Part XVII, but subject to the provisions of article 348, business in
the Legislature of a State shall be transacted in the official language or
languages of the State or in Hindi or in English:
Provided that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or Chairman of
the Legislative Council, or person acting as such, as the case may be, may
permit any member who cannot adequately express himself in any of the
languages aforesaid to address the House in his mother-tongue.
(2) Unless the Legislature of the State by law otherwise provides, this
article shall, after the expiration of a period of fifteen years from the
commencement of this Constitution, have effect as if the words “or in English”
were omitted therefrom:
Provided that in relation to the Legislatures of the States of Himachal
Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura this clause shall have effect as if for
the words “fifteen years” occurring therein, the words “twenty-five years” were
substituted:
Provided further that in relation to the Legislatures of the States of
Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram], this clause shall have effect as if for
the words "fifteen years" occurring therein, the words "forty years" were
substituted.

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