Home The Constitution Part XVII Article 348

Art. 348 Part XVII: Official Language

Language to Be Used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc.

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, until Parliament by law otherwise provides—(a) all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court, (b) the authoritative texts—(i) of all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved in either House of Parliament or in the House or either House of the Legislature of a State, (ii) of all Acts passed by Parliament or the Legislature of a State and of all Ordinances promulgated by the President or the Governor of a State, and (iii) of all orders, rules, regulations and bye-laws issued under this Constitution or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of a State, shall be in the English language.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (a) of clause (1), the Governor of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of the Hindi language, or any other language used for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article keeps the authoritative legal text of the Constitution's foundational documents — laws, bills, ordinances, and Supreme Court/High Court proceedings — in English by default, ensuring nationwide legal consistency and predictability regardless of regional language differences. Clause (2) does allow a state's Governor, with the President's consent, to authorise Hindi (or another state official language) for proceedings in that state's High Court specifically.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why, even in states that conduct most government business in a regional language, formal legal proceedings in the High Court and the authoritative text of laws remain primarily in English — with a specific, Presidentially-approved exception process for certain High Courts to also use Hindi.

Read alongside this one

Art. 214 — High Courts for States Art. 124 — Establishment of the Supreme Court

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 348

Can I get court documents in my regional language instead of English?

For the AUTHORITATIVE legal text, generally not by default — English remains the primary legal language for higher courts and legislation, though translations for practical understanding are increasingly available, and some High Courts have been authorised to use Hindi under clause (2).

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The text above reproduces Article 348 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.