Article 348

English as the Authoritative Language of Superior Courts and Legislation

Official heading: “Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc.”

Check this article against the official editionAwaiting human legal review

Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part XVII, Article 348, printed pages 206–207
Last human source-link check: Not yet checked
Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Mandates that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the authoritative text of all Bills, Acts, ordinances, and orders, shall be in the English language until Parliament provides otherwise.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 348 ensures legal certainty, precise judicial precedent, and national uniformity by requiring the English language to be used in superior courts and legislative drafting.

Under clause (1), until Parliament by law otherwise provides, all proceedings in the Supreme Court and every High Court, as well as the authoritative texts of all central and state Bills, Acts, Ordinances, and statutory rules, must be in English.

Under clause (2), the Governor of a State may, with the prior consent of the President, authorize the use of Hindi or the State’s official language in proceedings of the High Court, but judgments, decrees, and orders must still be delivered in English.

Under clause (3), where a State Legislature enacts a law in an Indian regional language, an official translation in English published in the Official Gazette serves as the authoritative legal text in the English language.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

A High Court in a non-Hindi state hears arguments in the regional language with presidential sanction, but issues its final written judgment in English.

Core takeaway: Article 348(2) permits regional languages in court proceedings, but mandates that final judgments and decrees remain in English for legal certainty across India.

Illustrative Notice: Only Parliament (not State Legislatures) can alter the requirement of English for Supreme Court proceedings and authoritative central statutes.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 348 establishes English as the linchpin of India’s integrated legal and judicial system.

Supreme Court language: English is mandatory for all Supreme Court hearings and judgments until Parliament enacts contrary legislation.
High Court proceedings: Governors can authorize regional languages with Presidential consent, but decrees must remain in English.
Authoritative texts: The English translation in the Official Gazette is legally authoritative in statutory interpretation disputes.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(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: Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any judgment, decree or order passed or made by such High Court. (3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (b) of clause (1), where the Legislature of a State has prescribed any language other than the English language for use in Bills introduced in, or Acts passed by, the Legislature of the State or in Ordinances promulgated by the Governor of the State or in any order, rule, regulation or bye-law issued by the Governor or by the Legislature of the State, a translation of the same in the English language published under the authority of the Governor of the State in the Official Gazette of that State shall be deemed to be the authoritative text thereof in the English language under this article.

Transcription for reference; compare with the linked official editionNot yet verified by a human legal reviewer

6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations

Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.

Sources & Citation Metadata

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Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part XVII, Article 348, printed pages 206–207 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.

Human legal review is pending; compare the text with the cited editionNon-partisan educational resource