Accused not entitled to get copies translated in Tamil:HC

Chennai,Jan13 (PTI) The Madras High court has dismisseda petition of a murder accused seeking a direction to a lowercourt to furnish the chargesheet in Tamil, saying "Section 207Cr.P.C. does not say that the accused is entitled to befurnished with copies of the records translated in Tamil."

Justice T.Mathivanan was passing orders on a petition filedby Anbu alias Sivalingam, facing charges under IPC sectionsincluding murder, pending trial in the lower court at Vellore.

"In so far as this petition is concerned, it is apparentthat the petition is filed in English and not in Tamil.Nopurpose is going to be served in keeping protracting theproceedings without allowing the trial of the case to becommenced," the judge said.

Counsel for petitioner submitted that the petitioner wasnot able to understand the charges against him as all thedocuments were in English and sought a direction to the trialcourt to furnish copies of the chargesheet in Tamil ,

Rejecting the petitioner''s request,the judge saidprovisions under section 307 of Cr.PC do not require theCourts to translate any document into Tamil or in any otherlanguage and furnish the copies of such translated documentsto the accused.

The Judge said counsel for petitioner was well-versed inEnglish language.Counsel would also explain the petitioner inTamil about the ingredients of the charges, against him.

Therefore, the petitioner need not apprehend that furnishingof copies of the records, documents and final report inEnglish would cause prejudice to him,the court held.PTI COR

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