HC will now accept papers in Hindi

Litigants can file annexures or affidavits in Hindi without necessarily supplying translated English copies of the documents simultaneously, a single-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court has said.

The court's order came when it took up the issue of two orders —- passed by a division bench on October 5 and a single-judge bench on July 24 —- in which it was said that the High Court Registry would not accept any affidavits or annexures in Hindi unless an English translation was simultaneously provided.

Hearing the petition of one Rajeshwari on Tuesday, the single-judge bench of Justice A P Sahi said: "It had become imperative to pass this order as a commotion had spread due to some confusion among the members of the Bar and also in the Reporting Section of the High Court."

Earlier, the court pointed out that the petitioner had filed an annexure in Hindi. The lawyers representing the respondents then pointed out that a circular, issued on October 10, in pursuance of the October 5 order was in operation and, hence, an annexure in Hindi alone could not be accepted.

However, Allahabad High Court Bar Association president V P Srivastava and other senior lawyers, who were present during the hearing, pointed out that there were provisions and court orders which did not provide for any such condition.

Taking note of the high court order passed in 1977, which cited a notification issued by the Governor in 1969 (which specified that Hindi could be the language of the court), the bench said that it appeared that the single judge bench and the division bench concerned were not informed about the existence of the same.

The court further said that although it was bound by the two court orders issued recently, it was also supposed to abide by the earlier court order passed in 1977 on the principle of equity.

... contd.

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