Chief Justice DY Chandrachud recently spoke at the convocation ceremony of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, on the value of embracing local languages as a way of efficient justice delivery mechanism.
In the address, he highlighted the cultural adjustments he faced moving from Mumbai to Allahabad as a High Court Judge and how these experiences shaped his views on the legal profession and education in India.
When Chief Justice Chandrachud moved from the Bombay High Court to the Allahabad High Court, he encountered a significant cultural shift. In Mumbai, court proceedings were primarily in English, but in Allahabad, he noticed that many local lawyers presented their cases in Hindi. This experience made him realise that the skill of advocacy gets enhanced when one is presenting a case in the language he is comfortable in.
“When I came to Allahabad, after spending my life in Mumbai as a judge at Bombay High Court, it was culturally different for me. The proceedings in Bombay High Court are in English, and I found that before Allahabad High Court, local lawyers would often start presenting their case in Hindi. It made me realise the potential of lawyers to present their case efficiently even in their local language.”
This led to a broader reflection on the significance of local languages in courts across the globe. The CJI pointed out that legal education and court proceedings are conducted in the regional language in many countries. This approach not only makes the legal system more accessible to citizens but also encourages them to pursue careers in law. He emphasised the importance of teaching law students the core principles of law in their local contexts and languages, which he believes will lead to the development of socially responsible lawyers who are deeply connected to their communities.
“In many countries across the world, both legal education and legal proceedings are conducted in the regional language, ensuring that all citizens can not only access the legal system but also aspire to be lawyers and judges. It is only when we teach core principles of law to our students efficiently while acquainting them with the local context and local legal terms, that we can create socially responsible lawyers in the future, who can truly understand the issues and concerns of the local community.”
