CM Vijay Moves Assembly Resolution for Tamil in Madras High Court

By New Delhi Chronicle Political Bureau

Published: September 3, 2026 | New Delhi

CHENNAI — The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government to recognize Tamil as the principal language of the Madras High Court.

Piloted by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, the resolution requests the Centre to establish clear legal and operational frameworks to allow litigants and advocates to file petitions, submit evidence, and present oral arguments in Tamil across the state’s highest judicial forum.

Moving the motion on the floor of the House, CM Vijay emphasized that the push for Tamil in Madras High Court is rooted in the state’s rich literary history and legal evolution, clarifying that the move does not seek to oppose or diminish any other language.

Key Constitutional and Legal Provisions Highlighted

The resolution anchors its demand in the federal structure of the Constitution and existing language laws:

 Official Language Status: Under Section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Official Language Act, 1956, Tamil serves as the official state language. Furthermore, Sections 4-A and 4-B already mandate its use in evidence, judgments, decrees, and orders within subordinate courts and judicial tribunals.

 Constitutional Framework: The motion cites Article 348(2) of the Constitution and Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963. These provisions empower the Governor of a state, with the prior consent of the President of India, to authorize the official state language for High Court proceedings.

 Judicial Orders & Translations: The state has requested that all decrees, rulings, and official orders delivered by the High Court be systematically translated and made available in Tamil, backed by AI-driven legal translation tools and training programs for court staff and advocates.

Cross-Party Consensus in the House

The resolution received support across party lines. Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar declared the motion unanimously passed following a structured debate where lawmakers, including representatives from the main opposition DMK, spoke in favor of regional language implementation in judicial proceedings.

During the debate, legislators recalled previous efforts to introduce Tamil in Madras High Court, notably referencing the Assembly’s earlier resolution passed on December 6, 2006. While the Supreme Court had previously turned down a similar request over a decade ago—citing a 1965 Cabinet Committee convention requiring the consent of the Chief Justice of India—the current state government maintained that modern translation technologies and legal advancement warrant a renewed framework.

The resolution will now be formally forwarded to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice for further action.