CPC Section 137 — Language of subordinate Courts

Civil

Summary

The language used in a subordinate court at the time the Code of Civil Procedure came into force will remain its language unless the state government orders a change. The state government can decide what language a subordinate court should use and in what script applications and court proceedings must be written. If a court requires or allows any written document other than evidence to be in English, and a party or their lawyer does not understand English, a translation into the court’s language must be provided upon request. The court will then decide who pays for the translation.

Official Text

(1) The language which, on the commencement of this Code, is the language of any Court subordinate to a High Court shall continue to be the language of such subordinate Court until the State Government otherwise directs.

(2) The State Government may declare what shall be the language of any such Court and in what character applications to and proceedings in such Courts shall be written.

(3) Where this Court requires or allows anything other that the recording of evidence to be done in writing in any such Court, such writing may be in English; but if any party or his pleader is unacquainted with English a translation into the language of the Court shall, at his request, be supplied to him; and the Court shall make such order as it thinks fit in respect of the payment of the costs of such translation.