Ranchi: The proposal regarding authorisation for using Hindi as a language in the proceedings of Jharkhand high court seems to have gained momentum recently, sources said.At present, all proceedings in the HC are conducted in English. A letter issued by the HC registrar general in-charge Manoj Kumar Singh on June 8 to the high court advocates’ association has sought opinion on the use of Hindi in court proceedings.A similar letter by Singh has also been sent to the Jharkhand State Bar Council for seeking views of its members on the matter. The genesis of authorising Hindi as a language in court proceedings was initiated by state govt through the governor on Dec 14, 2022.The recommendation was forwarded to Union minister of state for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, who in turn forwarded the letter to the office of the Chief Justice of India in June 2023.“The consideration of Hindi as a language to be used in court was mooted solely for the reason that the state has a higher population which speaks and understands Hindi. This will go a long way in ensuring availability of justice to people in the lowest rung of the ladder,” said advocates’ association secretary Navin Kumar.After receiving the letter from the Union minister, CJI Surya Kant has also sought the opinion of Jharkhand HC Chief Justice M S Sonak in the matter.Kumar further said that the HC written to the association to seek the views of its members on the use of Hindi as a language in court proceedings. “Hindi will definitely be more comfortable for litigants to understand the matter. It will also ensure that the proceedings in court are impartial and understood by all,” Kumar added.
