Constitution 348 — Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc

The Constitution of India, 1950

Statutory text

(1) Notwithstanding anything in the
foregoing provisions of this Part, until Parliament by law otherwise provides—
(a) all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court;
(b) the authoritative texts—
(i) of all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be
moved in either House of Parliament or in the House or either
House of the Legislature of a State;
(ii) of all Acts passed by Parliament or the Legislature of a
State and of all Ordinances promulgated by the President or the
Governor ** of a State; and
(iii) of all orders, rules, regulations and bye-laws issued
under this Constitution or under any law made by Parliament or
the Legislature of a State,
shall be in the English language.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (a) of clause (1), the
Governor
** of a State may, with the previous consent of the President,
authorise the use of the 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:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any judgment, decree
or order passed or made by such High Court.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (b) of clause (1), where the
Legislature of a State has prescribed any language other than the English
language for use in Bills introduced in, or Acts passed by, the Legislature of the
State or in Ordinances promulgated by the Governor ** of the State or in any
order, rule, regulation or bye-law referred to in paragraph (iii) of that sub-clause,
a translation of the same in the English language published under the authority of
the Governor ** of the State in the Official Gazette of that State shall be
deemed to be the authoritative text thereof in the English language under this
article.

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