Legal fraternity advised to use Telugu in courts

Vijayawada: High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad Judge Justice A Ramalingeswara Rao asserted that Telugu should be made court language provided active cooperation from all quarters.

Addressing a workshop on the usage of Telugu in courts jointly organised by Telugu Bhashodyama Samakhya, Bezwada Bar Association (BBA) and All India Lawyers Union (AILU) at the Conference Hall of BBA here on Sunday, Ramalingeswara Rao said many steps would be undertaken for effective usage of Telugu in the courts.

According to him, there is an administrative committee in the High Court comprising seven judges of which five are non-Telugu judges. Recalling an incident, the High Court judge said recently Telangana government appealed to High Court to inscribe names in Telugu on plaques at the time of laying foundation stone or inaugurations. However, the committee rejected the proposal.

Referring to various requirements, the justice stressed the importance of translation facility to make proceedings in the courts effective in regional language. “There should be a competent DTP system with necessary staff, translation wing and authorised bibliography of legal terminology to effectively implement Telugu in courts including the High Court,” he averred.

He called upon the advocates to take lead in implementation of Telugu in the courts. Earlier, senior advocate Hanuma Reddy recalled that prior to 1970, Telugu was extensively used in the courts. It is sad after 1970, he added the judiciary stopped using the mother tongue.

He demanded that all government orders should be released in Telugu and necessary translation system should be in place in all the courts. Mangari Rajender, former district judge and member of Telangana State Public Service Commission, who delivered many judgments in Telugu during his tenure, said that he had published almost all his judgments in 40 books written by him.

Expressing serious concern over the status of Telugu language, District Judge Y Lakshmana Rao said the government should include Telugu in law course to revive its past glory.

Bezwada Bar Association president Somu Krishna Murthy appealed to advocates to present their arguments in Telugu to make their clients know that they have argued well on their behalf.

All India Lawyers Union president and Bar Council member Sunkara Rajendra Prasad suggested introduction of concession in court fee to encourage advocates to file their plaints in Telugu. Telugu Bhashodyama Samakh-ya president Dr Samala Ramesh Babu chaired the meeting.