Indian Courts and legal system must have regional languages: Kiren Rijiju

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has once again asked for prioritizing local languages in Indian Courts.

Meanwhile, Rijiju attended the 12th Convocation of Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University in Chennai and said, “The Aim of the University should not only be to focus on education but also add to the moral and ethical values.”

“Ambedkar Law University is on a good path in the educational process. National Education Policy (NEP), the core concept under the multi-disciplinary system is being maintained by Ambedkar Law University,” the Law minister said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to take forward the culture and language of our country,” Rijiju said.

While addressing the convocation Rijiju said in the curricular activities Indian Courts and legal systems must include regional languages.

“Indian Courts and legal system must have regional languages in their curricular activities. I have spoken to the Chief Justice, senior judges of Supreme Court, all Chief Justices of High Courts that in future we must give priority to local languages.”

“In Tamil Nadu, we will be proud to see the Tamil language taking center-stage in the Madras High Court and all district courts and subordinate courts of the state,” the Law Minister said.

However, for bringing regional languages into the legal system Ministry of Law and Justice has taken various steps.

“We have identified common words used in the Indian courts. Around 65,000 words were identified and digitalized and efforts are on to collect and release them in regional languages and in searchable format,” Rijiju said.

The Bar Council of India is working closely with the Ministry of Justice, Rijiju said.

“We have decided to ensure the use of local language in courts. In the Indian Constitution, 22 languages are already recognized. Tamil is a classical language. The regional language must be given priority. Technology is available for instant translation. The person, be it, complainants or victims, all should understand and know what’s going on in the courts in front of them,” the Law Minister said.

The Law minister further said, to provide Pre-Litigation Services for free from this the government is working on this.

“The Digital India program is helping the judiciary. From March 2020, 2.2 crore cases were heard of which 3 lakh cases were heard in virtual mode. There are 21 virtual courts in 17 states as of now, where 2.14 lakh cases were done via E-filing, E-payments. Because of the digital campaign, all High Courts of India and all the courts have basic facilities of computer and other facilities are being given,” Rijiju said.

However, for the infrastructure development of courts in India cabinet headed by PM Modi has allotted Rs 9,000 crore from the central scheme.

“All the district and subordinate courts will be having basic facilities like bathrooms. Facilities are of primary concern,” Rijiju said.

“In India, the total pending case is touching 5 crores and it’s a matter of worry for us and it’s a concern for the common man. Common people are waiting for years for justice and that time should be reduced,” the law minister said.

“Modernization of the legal wing is in process. Let’s make India a vibrant democracy. As PM Modi said, India will guide the world. Our legal system must be robust,” Rijiju added.

Furthermore, to collect legal glossaries published in regional languages are being collected by the government and are digitizing them for the public in a searchable format, Rijiju concluded