Chennai:
It's politics over language in Tamil Nadu. The opposition AIADMK on Monday jumped in to support lawyers who are fighting for their right to argue cases in Tamil. This, even as the ruling DMK prepares for its first Classical World Tamil conference in Coimbatore.
Lawyers in the state can be allowed to argue cases in Tamil in the Madras High Court if the President allows it. The issue has been pending before the Centre for the last four years.
Today, Jayalalithaa's MPs urged the President to give a green signal before she inaugurates the conference on Wednesday.
"Tamil CM is conducting world Tamil conference but he didn't make efforts to make Tamil as court language. Feelings of public and lawyers should be considered for making Tamil as court language," said M Thambidurai, MP, AIADMK leader.
While the opposition is trying to gain political mileage over this issue, lawyers say it's their turn now to settle scores with the ruling DMK for its failure to act tough against the police for last year's clashes on the court campus and there could be more embarrassment in store at the conference in Coimbatore.
"We will show black flags to Law Minister Veerappa Moily and Home Minister P Chidambaram at the conference," said A R Ramasami, Secretary, Madurai Bar Association.
Sources say the Home Ministry is concerned over practical difficulties like what happens if a judge doesn't speak Tamil.
"That's just a handful of judges who don't know Tamil, all you need is four or five interpreters. You write your judgements in English, we don't object to that but allow us to speak in Tamil," said Henry Tiphagne, Advocate.
In High Courts in Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and UP, lawyers have the option to argue in Hindi but in Tamil Nadu, Tamil has been allowed only in lower courts. Given its clout at the Centre, this issue has certainly put the DMK on the backfoot.
Lawyers in the state can be allowed to argue cases in Tamil in the Madras High Court if the President allows it. The issue has been pending before the Centre for the last four years.
Today, Jayalalithaa's MPs urged the President to give a green signal before she inaugurates the conference on Wednesday.
"Tamil CM is conducting world Tamil conference but he didn't make efforts to make Tamil as court language. Feelings of public and lawyers should be considered for making Tamil as court language," said M Thambidurai, MP, AIADMK leader.
While the opposition is trying to gain political mileage over this issue, lawyers say it's their turn now to settle scores with the ruling DMK for its failure to act tough against the police for last year's clashes on the court campus and there could be more embarrassment in store at the conference in Coimbatore.
"We will show black flags to Law Minister Veerappa Moily and Home Minister P Chidambaram at the conference," said A R Ramasami, Secretary, Madurai Bar Association.
Sources say the Home Ministry is concerned over practical difficulties like what happens if a judge doesn't speak Tamil.
"That's just a handful of judges who don't know Tamil, all you need is four or five interpreters. You write your judgements in English, we don't object to that but allow us to speak in Tamil," said Henry Tiphagne, Advocate.
In High Courts in Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and UP, lawyers have the option to argue in Hindi but in Tamil Nadu, Tamil has been allowed only in lower courts. Given its clout at the Centre, this issue has certainly put the DMK on the backfoot.
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