Constitution Section 210 — Language to be used in the Legislature

Part VI — THE STATES — Procedure Generally

Constitutional

Summary

Business in a state legislature can be conducted in the state's official language or languages, or in Hindi, or in English. However, the Speaker or Chairman may allow a member who cannot express themselves well in any of these languages to speak in their mother tongue. After 15 years from the start of the Constitution, the option to use English would be removed unless the state legislature passes a law to keep it. Special longer time periods apply for certain states: 25 years for Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura, and 40 years for Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, and Mizoram.

Official Text

(1) Notwithstanding anything in Part XVII, but subject to the provisions of article 348, business in the Legislature of a State shall be transacted in the official language or languages of the State or in Hindi or in English:Provided that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or Chairman of the Legislative Council, or person acting as such, as the case may be, may permit any member who cannot adequately express himself in any of the languages aforesaid to address the House in his mother-tongue.

(2) Unless the Legislature of the State by law otherwise provides, this article shall, after the expiration of a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, have effect as if the words “or in English” were omitted therefrom:Provided that in relation to the Legislatures of the States of Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura this clause shall have effect as if for the words “fifteen years” occurring therein, the words “twenty-five years” were substituted:Provided further that in relation to the Legislatures of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram, this clause shall have effect as if for the words "fifteen years" occurring therein, the words "forty years" were substituted.