Allahabad: A writ petition drafted and
presented in Sanskrit cannot be adjudicated nor can arguments
be advanced in the language, the Allahabad High Court ruled
Monday.
Passing the order dismissing a 26-year-old writ petition,
drafted in Sanskrit and filed along with a copy of its Hindi
translation, Justice Sabhajeet Yadav said "even no judgement,
order or decree can be passed by the courts in Sanskrit".
The writ petition was filed by one Virendra Shah Sodh in
July, 1986.
When the matter came up for hearing today, the court
refused to entertain the petition on the ground that it was
drafted in Sanskrit and rejected the petitioner`s claim that
the writ itself was admitted by a court order delivered in the
classical language.
However, the court said "the law, as it now stands,
clearly permits the use of Hindi in every proceeding of the
High Court including drafting of affidavits,
counter-affidavits and rejoinder, the appeals, revision,
review and writ petitions".
The court also said a High Court judge "can also deliver
his judgement or pass order or decree in Hindi if he so
chooses but he cannot be compelled to do so."
"In case, he passes an order or decree etc. in Hindi, the
only limitation still imposed upon him is that it must be
accompanied by a translation of the same in English under the
authority of the High Court," it said.
"But there is nothing to indicate that any such law
permits the use of Sanskrit in any proceedings of the High
Court", the judge remarked.
PTI
