'Centre to process TN proposal on Tamil in HC'

Chennai, Mar 12: The Union Law Ministry will process afresh the Tamil Nadu Government's proposal for introduction of Tamil as official language in Madras High Court and obtain the President's consent ''as expeditiously as possible.''

In a letter to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a copy of which circulated to the media here, Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said, ''I have carefully gone through your letter and asked my department to process the matter afresh keeping in view the points raised by you in this matter.'' He also assured the Chief Minister that the consent of the President would be obtained as expeditiously as possible.

Mr Karunanidhi, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr Bhardwaj yesterday, had expressed shock and surprise over the Centre's letter disagreeing with the Tamil Nadu Government's proposal.

The Centre had stated the matter was examined in consultation with the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India had opined that for the present it was not proper to introduce regional language in the orders, decrees and other proceedings of the High Court.

Pointing out that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed an unanimous resolution on the issue, Mr Karunanidhi said Madras High Court had also given its in-principle concurrence for the use of Tamil in court proceedings.

The Governor of Tamil Nadu and the High Court were of the opinion that it was perfectly legal to use Tamil in the High Court, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi also contended that every state in the Union of India had the right to invoke Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, which empowered the Governor of a State to authorize the use of Hindi or the official language of the state, in addition to the English language, for the purpose of any judgement, decree or order passed or made by the High Court for the state.

UNI