Govt likely to allow Tamil in Madras HC

So far, only high courts in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan had been authorised to conduct proceedings in Hindi along with English.

Using the conference of Chief Ministers and the Chief Justices here on Saturday to reiterate his demand, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi urged the Chief Justice of India and the Union Law Minister “to approve” the state’s proposal.

However, Bhardwaj’s statement was in contrast to the Central Government’s reply to Karunanidhi’s plea in 2007. The Centre’s letter, which turned down the request, said the CJI was of the opinion that for now “it is not proper to introduce regional language in the orders, decrees and other proceedings of the High Court.”

But the CM had since taken up the matter again at various fora, saying a resolution had been passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislature and recommended by the Governor. On December 2, 2006, the Madras High Court had given its consent to the State Government’s proposal to use Tamil in the High Court. It had rejected the demand twice before in December 2001 and March 2003.