Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Judge lays stress on Tamil in court

Staff Reporter

"Courts have been set up for common man" "A case with merits will win whether the lawyer was engaged for just Rs.50 or Rs. 50 lakh"

MADURAI: There is nothing wrong in introducing Tamil in the Madras High Court because it is the language of the common man for whom the courts have been established, according to S.J. Mukhopadhaya, senior most judge of the High Court, here on Monday.

His remarks raised many eyebrows at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court Bar Association (MMBA), as the lawyers least expected the judge hailing from Patna in Bihar to back the classical language.

First to extend support

Addressing them at a felicitation function organised in his honour, Mr. Mukhopadhaya said, "When the State Government's proposal on introducing Tamil in the Madras High Court came up for discussion in a full court meeting, I was the first to support the move."

There was no harm in High Court judges delivering verdicts in Tamil, if they wished so, though nobody could force it upon them, Mr. Mukhopadhaya said.

Tamils' love their language

He stressed that a person should not lose his identity at any cost and said that he was pleased to witness the Tamils' love for their tradition, culture and language.

On his role as a jurist, he said: "I am a judge only from 10.30-4.30. After that I am like anybody else."

Urging young lawyers to argue confidently without the assistance of seniors, he claimed that a case with merits would definitely win in the court of law no matter whether the lawyer was engaged for just Rs.50 or Rs. 50 lakh.

"Our judgements are completely corresponding and proportionate to your (lawyers) assistance," he said and sought the cooperation of the Bar in rendering justice.

The MMBA president Isaac Mohanlal introduced the judge.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Double track work to be over by March
Caste discrimination charge to be probed
CII to develop agro industries
`Delimit rural constituencies based on geographical area'
Judge lays stress on Tamil in court
Guiding students
Tamil can be introduced in courts, says judge
Transfer of divorce case: Bench pulls up engineer
Good news for Harry Potter fans in southern districts
Stress on healthy lifestyle
Meeting
Correction
Around The City
In Madurai Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu