Litigants can file applications in Kannada before Administrative Tribunal: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court recently held that litigants can file pleadings, including applications, in Kannada before the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) [Suryakanth v. KPSC].

A Division Bench of Justice Ashok S Kinagi and Justice Subramanya Rangarao passed the ruling while setting aside a June 2025 KAT order that had rejected a Kannada-language application filed by one Suryakanth.

The Court held that applications fall within the meaning of “pleadings” under Rule 9(iii) of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal Rules of Practice, 1990, which expressly permits pleadings and other documents to be filed in either English or Kannada.

The Bench concluded that there is no prohibition on litigants filing applications in Kannada before the tribunal.

"There is no complete embargo on the part of the litigants to file an application in Kannada. The parties can file an application in Kannada in terms of Rule 9(iii) of 1990 Rules and the 1986 Rules provides that the Bench, in its discretion, may permit the use of Kannada in the proceedings, subject to the condition that the final order should be in English," the October 7 ruling explained.

The petitioner had approached the KAT with a plea seeking permission to file his original application in Kannada. However, the tribunal had rejected the request, relying on Rule 3 of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1986, which prescribes English as the language of the tribunal.

Aggrieved by the decision, Suryakanth approached the High Court, contending that Rule 3 of the 1986 Rules permits the filing of documents in Kannada and also allows the Bench to permit the use of Kannada during proceedings, subject to the final order being passed in English.

The State government opposed the plea, arguing that pleadings before the Tribunal had to be presented in English.

The High Court examined Rule 3 of the 1986 Rules and Rule 9(iii) of the 1990 Rules.

The Bench noted that Rule 3 allows parties to file documents in Kannada and empowers the tribunal to permit the use of Kannada during proceedings, while stipulating that the final order must be in English.

It also referred to Rule 9(iii) of the 1990 Rules, which provides that all pleadings, affidavits, memoranda, lists of documents and documents presented before the Tribunal must be typewritten in English or Kannada.

“As such, the petitioner has rightly filed the application in Kannada language in terms of clause (iii) of Rule 9 of Rules of 1990,” the Court said.

The Bench held that the tribunal had failed to consider the relevant provision of the 1990 Rules while rejecting the petitioner's application.

“Such a basic aspect was not properly considered by the Tribunal and committed an error in passing the impugned order,” the Court observed.

Accordingly, the High Court allowed the petition, quashed the tribunal's order, allowed the petitioner's interlocutory application (seeking permission to file his pleadings in Kannada) and restored the original application.

The tribunal was directed to dispose of the original application in accordance with law.

Advocate Shankar Kattimani for the petitioner.

[Read Judgment]