Importance of Regional Language Translation

Speaking at the special convocation ceremony at Tamilnadu Dr. Ambedkar Law Academy, Chennai, President Ram Nath Kovind stressed on the need to have judgments translated to Regional Language.

The Supreme Court has decided to make its judgments available in regional languages on its official website. The court is also making arrangements to implement this. English is the official language of High Courts and Supreme Court of India. Hence, all the proceedings and judgment takes place in the English language. Most of the time litigants are not conversant with the English language; they face difficulty in understanding the judgments, etc. So language should be such that it should be understandable to litigants in their regional language.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also stressed on the same. Now the Supreme Court’s verdict will be made available in 6 languages-

  • Hindi
  • Assamese
  • Kannada
  • Marathi
  • Odia and
  • Telugu

These Supreme Court has selected these languages because of large numbers of request are from these states. And the other languages, if required, will be added in the next phase. The Courts will deliver the original verdict in English. Later on,  the Courts will translate the judgment in regional languages within a week.

Technology

The app, similar to Google’s text translation, is likely to be launched in a single-phase and cover all vernacular languages. The software application is intended to be launched in July end or would be launched in the inaugural function of the Supreme Court’s new office buildings at Appu Ghar.

The benefits of translating judgments are that now the litigants don’t have to depend upon the lawyers or any other person to translate it in their language. Non-English speaking litigants can visit the Court’s website and know the status of their cases sitting at home in the language they are well-versed with. It will help people from backward and rural areas to understand the verdict easily as many litigants come from these areas and it would be comfortable for them and also they will be satisfied because now language barrier would not cause any hurdle. It will also increase awareness of the law in people because many people don’t understand the law just because of language issues.

The High Court of Chhattisgarh has implemented the suggestion. Now, the litigants can avail translated copy of the judgment in Hindi.

Other Suggestions

Apart from this, President also stressed the need to enhance legal literacy, simplify rules and make it understandable to litigating parties and also to a layman in a language they know. Our legal profession is a very noble profession and the legal system is very expensive and prone to delays. Also, there is often misuse of the instrument of adjournment. These things make justice delayed and costly. So for poor people, it is difficult to get justice as that of the rich people. And the law is same for all the people. So translating the provisions, judgments, etc in vernacular language is one of the ways to help litigating and layman people.

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