‘Language of court is English’, SC tells Hindi-speaking litigant

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday told a litigant, who started arguing his case in Hindi as he did not speak or understand English, that the “language of this court is English”.

The court provided petitioner Shankar Lal Sharma with a legal-aid counsel after finding that he was not able to understand what the court was saying. “We have read the case file... we are not able to understand what you are saying,” judge KM Joseph told Sharma after listening to his argument. “The language of this court is English. If you wish, we can provide you a lawyer who will argue your case,” the judge said.

After Sharma accepted the court’s proposal to have a legal-aid lawyer, the bench asked another lawyer whether he can assist the petitioner. After he agreed, the bench told the lawyer: “Hope, you are doing it pro bono.” ”Yes, I will be doing it pro bono,” the lawyer responded.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on December 4.