Tamil Language

Tamil in Chennai Courts: Sections 4-A, 4-B and the High Court

Lower courts have used Tamil for decades. The Madras High Court still runs in English, and the Assembly renewed its request in September 2026.

15 October 2026

Chennai FalconMr. Parthasarathy aka Chennai Falcon is passionate about…

Updated 2026-10-29, 2:05 AM

Tamil in court: what's allowed, what's pending

Evidence in Tamil Nadu’s subordinate courts has been recorded in Tamil since 14 January 1970, and judgments in civil courts, tribunals and rent and revenue courts have been required in Tamil since 1 February 1982. The Madras High Court, a short walk from Parry’s Corner, is different: its proceedings still run in English, and the state’s request to change that has been pending, in one form or another, since 2006.

The issue came back on 3 September 2026, when the Assembly passed a fresh resolution asking the Union government to allow Tamil in the High Court. Here is how the law on court language works, what has already changed in the lower courts and where the High Court request stands.

The lower courts: Sections 4-A and 4-B

The 1956 Official Language Act originally said nothing about courts. The State Official Language Commission traces the changes:

1969: G.O.Ms.No.5630 adopted Tamil for recording evidence in subordinate courts, effective 14 January 1970.
1976: During President’s Rule, the Tamil Nadu Official Language (Amendment) Act, 1976 inserted Sections 4-A and 4-B into the Act, with effect from 12 November 1976.
1982: G.O.Ms.No.9 brought Section 4-B into force for civil courts, tribunals and rent and revenue courts from 1 February 1982.

The text of the two sections is practical. Section 4-A makes Tamil the language for recording evidence in civil and criminal courts below the High Court, in tribunals and in rent and revenue courts. Section 4-B does the same for judgments, decrees and orders. Both let the presiding officer use English words and phrases where needed, and both let the High Court (or, for revenue courts, the Board of Revenue) permit English by general or special order. The government can bring the rules into force on different dates for different kinds of courts.

For a Chennai litigant, this means a case in a court below the High Court may be heard, recorded and decided in Tamil, though English can still appear by permission. If you need an English version for an appeal or for use outside the state, ask your lawyer about certified translations.

The High Court: what the Constitution allows

Article 348 of the Constitution says proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts are in English. A Governor may, with the President’s prior consent, authorise Hindi or the state’s official language for High Court proceedings. Section 7 of Parliament’s Official Languages Act, 1963 allows the same for judgments, provided an English translation is issued with them. A Lok Sabha answer of 26 July 2024 set out these rules.

A March 2007 state government press note recorded that the High Courts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan already used their official language under this route.

Tamil Nadu’s request, 2006 to 2026

6 December 2006: The Assembly unanimously resolved to seek Tamil in the High Court’s orders, decrees and proceedings. The press note said the High Court had agreed in principle.
27 February 2007: A Union government letter conveyed the Chief Justice of India’s view, after consulting the Supreme Court, that it was not proper to introduce a regional language in High Court proceedings for the present. Then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi wrote back asking for equal treatment with the four northern states, and said Tamil would be used alongside English, with official English translations.
2012 and 2016: The Full Court of the Supreme Court declined the proposal, and declined again after the state sought a review, according to the 2024 Lok Sabha answer.
3 September 2026: Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay moved a resolution that the Assembly adopted by unanimous voice vote, UNI reported. It urges the Centre to recognise Tamil as the principal language of the Madras High Court, set procedures for Tamil petitions and arguments, make judgments available in Tamil and train judges, advocates and staff in legal Tamil and translation. The Chief Minister cited progress in AI translation as a reason to reconsider.

No decision on the 2026 resolution has been announced as of mid-October.

Judgments you can already read in Tamil

The Supreme Court’s AI-assisted tool SUVAS translates its judgments from English into 18 Indian languages. As of 15 July 2024, 51,501 judgments had been translated, 2,256 of them into Tamil, the Lok Sabha answer said. Hindi had the largest share at 36,260. These translations are for reading and understanding; the English judgment remains the authoritative text.

The State Official Language Commission has also been building a Tamil legal glossary since 1957. Its history page says the later glossary covers letters A to N. Law students and junior lawyers in Chennai who draft in Tamil often use these glossaries alongside standard dictionaries.

For a specific case, speak to an advocate about the language of filing and any translation you need.

Quick answers

Can I give evidence in Tamil in a Chennai court?

Yes, in courts below the High Court. Section 4-A has made Tamil the language for recording evidence there.

Why is the Madras High Court still in English?

Article 348 requires English unless the President consents to another language. The Supreme Court’s Full Court declined Tamil Nadu’s request in 2012 and 2016.

What did the September 2026 resolution ask for?

Recognition of Tamil as the High Court’s principal language, Tamil filings and judgments, and legal-Tamil training.

Are Supreme Court judgments available in Tamil?

Some are. 2,256 had been translated into Tamil by 15 July 2024.

Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.