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| Translating Judgments | | |
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud’s recent statement that nearly 37,000 Supreme Court judgments have been translated into Hindi since Independence, with efforts underway to translate them into other regional languages, is a landmark moment in the democratization of justice.
This initiative is not just a technical exercise but a profound step towards inclusivity in India’s legal system. By making Supreme Court judgments accessible in multiple languages, the judiciary is ensuring that legal knowledge and rulings are no longer confined to a small segment of society but reach the masses, particularly those in rural and non-English-speaking areas.
One of the most significant hurdles in India’s legal framework has been the dominance of English as the language of the judiciary. While English may serve as a unifying language for legal professionals, it creates a barrier for millions of citizens who may not be fluent in it. A large portion of India’s population speaks and reads in their native languages.
According to the 2011 Census, only 10.6% of Indians speak English, and for most, it is a second or third language. The complex legal jargon often used in judgments further exacerbates this linguistic divide, making it nearly impossible for the average citizen to fully comprehend their legal rights and court rulings.
The translation of judgments into Hindi and other regional languages is a giant leap in enhancing access to justice. The ability to read and understand court rulings in one’s mother tongue empowers individuals to be more aware of their legal rights and remedies. It removes the dependence on lawyers and legal intermediaries for basic comprehension of rulings. More importantly, it ensures that justice is not only done but is seen to be done by every citizen, regardless of linguistic background.
This move aligns with the constitutional promise of equal access to justice for all. Article 39A of the Indian Constitution emphasizes that the legal system should promote justice on the basis of equal opportunity and that it should provide free legal aid to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. Language is one such disability that this initiative aims to overcome.
India’s rural population, which constitutes over 65% of the total population, primarily communicates in regional languages. Translating Supreme Court judgments into these languages can bridge the existing urban-rural divide in access to legal information. Farmers, workers, and marginalized communities will be able to read rulings directly related to their issues, such as land disputes, labor laws, and environmental concerns, thereby fostering legal literacy at the grassroots level.
India’s federal structure and linguistic diversity are integral to its identity. Translating judgments into regional languages also promotes the recognition and respect of this diversity within the legal system. It strengthens the idea that no citizen should feel alienated from the law of the land due to linguistic barriers. |
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