Hindi is national language; witnesses from West Bengal expected to communicate before UP Court in Hindi: Supreme Court

Hindi is the national language and witnesses who are produced before tribunal in Uttar Pradesh are expected to communicate/ depose in Hindi though they may be from a different State, the Supreme Court recently observed [Pramod Sinha v. Suresh Singh Chauhan and Others]..Single-judge Justice Dipankar Datta, therefore, dismissed a plea seeking transfer of a motor accident case pending in Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), Farukkabad in State of Uttar Pradesh to MACT Darjeeling in State of West Bengal.The petitioner, who was the owner of the offending vehicle, moved the Court, arguing that since all the witnesses in the case are from Siliguri (in West Bengal), there could be a possibility that language could act as a barrier if proceedings are conducted in MACT Farukkabad..Rejecting this contention, the Court observed,"In a country as diverse as India, it is no doubt true that people speak different languages. There are at least 22 (twenty-two) official languages. However, Hindi being the national language, it is expected of the witnesses who would be produced by the petitioner before the MACT, Fatehgarh, U.P. to communicate and convey their version in Hindi.".Further, the Court also rejected the ground raised by the petitioner that since the accident had taken place at Siliguri, it would be expedient for the MACT Darjeeling to decide the claim petition."Sub-section (2) of Section 166 provides an option for the claimants to approach the MACT within the local limits of whose jurisdiction they (claimants) reside or carry on business or the defendant resides. The claimants having chosen the option to approach the MACT, Farrukhabad at Fatehgarh, U.P., a forum that law permits them to choose, no grievance can be raised by the petitioner. The contention is misconceived and, hence, stands overruled," the Court observed.Interestingly, Justice Datta himself is from West Bengal..[Read Order]