Madras HC calls Centre's reply in Hindi a violation of Law

Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has decreed that all the communications between the Union and the state governments should be made in English, invoking the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 1963.

The court order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a Lok Sabha member from Madurai Su Venkatesh, who sought direction from the Union government on the language of the communication between the State and Central governments. Venkatesh received a reply in Hindi from the Minister of State for Home to his request to set up examination centres for CRPF paramedical staff recruitment at Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The court comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and Justice M Duraiswamy ruled that the Union government should communicate in the same language in which the state governments have made their requests. The Court implicitly stated that the Union government is responsible to reply in English once the representation is given in English.

The High Court bench also termed the Centre's reply in Hindi a violation of the constitutional legal rights and the Official Languages Act of 1963.

Venkatesh MP said that he had sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 9 requesting to set up an examination centre in Puducherry for CRPF paramedical staff recruitment in English, only to receive the reply in Hindi.

"Therefore, letters should not be sent in Hindi to the Government of Tamil Nadu, Members of Parliament of Tamil Nadu and the people of Tamil Nadu. The Central Government should send letters only in English. It should also order action against officials who violate the rule," the Court stated.