Home The Constitution Part XVII Article 350

Art. 350 Part XVII: Official Language

Language to Be Used in Representations for Redress of Grievances

Exact text — Constitution of India

Every person shall be entitled to submit a representation for the redress of any grievance to any officer or authority of the Union or a State in any of the languages used in the Union or in the State, as the case may be.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

A short but genuinely important individual protection — anyone can submit a grievance to any Union or State government officer/authority in any language used in the Union or that state, without being forced to write it in a specific official language they may not know well.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is a direct, personally usable right — if you want to file a complaint or petition with a government office, you're entitled to do so in a language you're comfortable with (as long as it's a language in use in that Union/state context), not forced into a language barrier when trying to access government redress mechanisms.

Read alongside this one

Art. 350a — Facilities for Instruction in the Mother Tongue

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 350

Does this mean I can write to any government office in ANY Indian language?

Specifically, in a language 'used in the Union or in the State' — practically, this covers the official languages relevant to that Union/state context, giving you real flexibility beyond just Hindi or English if your state recognises other languages officially.

← PreviousArticle 349: Special Procedure for Enactment of Certain Laws Relating to Language Next →Article 350A: Facilities for Instruction in Mother-Tongue at Primary Stage

The text above reproduces Article 350 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.