In a first, High Court gives translated version of its verdict

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Just about a month after the Punjab and Haryana High Court sentenced an advocate from Narnaul to imprisonment for writing against a judge on Facebook after his personal cases were dismissed by the single-Bench last year, he has been handed over the translated version of the judgment.

This is, perhaps, the first time ever in the High Court’s history that a judgment has been translated at the asking of an affected party.

Soon after the pronouncement of the verdict by the Division Bench of Justice MMS Bedi and Justice Hari Pal Verma, advocate Manish Vashishth had asked for the judgment’s copy in Hindi after quoting the provisions of the CPC.

Initially, a verbal request was made by the petitioner for supplying the copy to him in the Devanagari script on the grounds that Hindi was his mother tongue. His argument was that the translated copy of the judgment would help him in better preparation of his defence in his appeal to be filed before the Supreme Court against the High Court judgment.

The advocate, subsequently, furnished the request in writing. The advocate said the handwritten translation of the 166-page judgment running into 119 pages was handed over to him.

The development is significant as it is likely to pave way for other litigants and affected parties to seek the copies of the judgment in the Devanagari script or even the language known and understood by them.

The development is also significant as Article 348 (I) of the Constitution of India makes it clear that the official language for the purpose of rules, orders or any directions by the Supreme Court and high courts is English only. Available Supreme Court and high courts is English only. Available information suggests the Delhi High Court in October, 2013, had rejected the plea for the Hindi translation of court orders made by the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape case.

The High Court, in its judgment, had asserted: “In case the punishment is not awarded to a person, who by his publication scandalizes and lowers the authority of not only the court but also of the judiciary in the eyes of general public which deserves to be punished in the exercise of powers under Contempt of Courts Act and under Article 215 of the Constitution, the faith of the general public in the judiciary will be shattered.”

The Bench had made it clear that the advocate concerned had a right to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. As such, the order of the sentence would not be implemented till July 2, when the Supreme Court reopened after the summer vacation.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2tUW74n