The court of law holds the social bonding and trust between the common man, the legislature, the judicial system, and the executive power. When this equilibrium is reached, the country advances strongly with a sense of belonging, cordial relations among various stakeholders, and confidence in the Constitution and its effectiveness.
‘Local Language’ is one of the most powerful pillars that can make it happen. Ideas, expression of ideas, and proper communication to bring other people on the same platform and effectively address people’s concerns. It has been proven scientifically and psychologically that the local language plays a critical role in bringing clarity to communication. It easily binds people to move them in a common direction while channelling energy in one direction. Any thought or idea can be grasped and expressed in the best way possible in the local language.
During his address to Chief Justices of High Courts and Chief Ministers, along with the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the use of local language in courts.
Even though we have one of the best systems in the world, the common man feels insecure and less confident in the judicial system. The reasons could be ignorance of the legal system, long timeframes, misuse of money and power by some to influence the legal process, millions of pending cases, and the influence of the English language in law education, law framing, and in many courts have all hampered social integration with the judicial system.
The language barrier created a mentality that the legal system is for a special class of people, and because the common man cannot deal with that language, this class has built a barrier that separates them from the judicial system. This mentality and distrust have been exploited by exploiters to grab land, and money, harming society, damaging social image and fabric, and laws are being used out of greed by many influential people and government officials. Many people have suffered greatly due to exploitation, but they never pursue legal action because they see it as a mental harassment process.
More distrust, more social unrest, and thus more harm to the nation and its growth. Bringing local language to courts may appear difficult, but it is not impossible. Every system has advantages and disadvantages; it may appear tedious and burdensome to the system at first, but it will have a significant positive impact on the average person in the long run. It will undoubtedly empower everyone to use the laws and the system wisely.
Using local language to transform an entire system will improve a society’s socio-economic situation. Almost 70% of Bharat live in rural areas, and strengthening them strengthens Bharat.
To express effectively and with belonging, we must have a ‘Vocal for Local’ attitude in goods and communication. Because of its strong cultural and historical roots, each Bharatiya language has a deeper connection and roots in that region.
Even delays in court rulings will be significantly reduced once the system is streamlined. Exploitation will be significantly reduced, allowing ordinary people, businesses, and industrialists to grow without fear.
Because of the well-managed legal process and judicial system, it will foster trust in both domestic and foreign investors.
At the end of the day, knowing the local language is critical, and our personal experience confirms this. When you communicate with someone in their native language, you communicate with them on a different level than if you speak with them in English. Furthermore, while it may appear that most people in any given international city speak English, the reality is usually quite different. If you cannot converse in the local language, communicating with a salesperson at the grocery store or resolving a minor legal issue will be either impossible or a nightmare.
Many studies have shown that ex-pats who can communicate in the local language are happier, have fewer difficulties, and find the locals much friendlier.
Because of the importance of the local language in socio-economic growth, many countries have prioritised it in education and the legal system. Similarly, the Bharat government has decided to prioritise local languages in education, as stated in the NEP 2020, and we can expect the same in the legal system. The PM, CJI, and elites should work together to make it happen as soon as possible.
