Schedule 4 of the Indian Constitution is a list of the 22 official languages of India. The languages are listed in order of their importance, with Hindi being the first language and English being the second language. The schedule also includes a provision for the use of regional languages in the administration of justice.
The schedule was first adopted in 1950, and it has been amended several times since then. The most recent amendment was in 2004, when Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali were added to the list of official languages.
The schedule is an important part of the Indian Constitution, as it guarantees the right of all citizens to use their mother tongue in government and public affairs. It also helps to promote unity and diversity in India, as it recognizes the many different languages that are spoken in the country.
The 22 Official Languages of India
The 22 official languages of India are:
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Maithili
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Marathi
- Nepali
- Oriya
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
The Importance of Schedule 4
Schedule 4 of the Indian Constitution is important because it guarantees the right of all citizens to use their mother tongue in government and public affairs. This right is enshrined in Article 343 of the Constitution, which states that “the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari script.” However, Article 345 also states that “the English language may be used for all or any of the purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.”
This means that both Hindi and English are official languages of the Union, and that either language can be used for official purposes. However, the use of English is gradually being phased out, and it is expected that Hindi will eventually become the sole official language of the Union.
The Use of Regional Languages in the Administration of Justice
Schedule 4 of the Indian Constitution also includes a provision for the use of regional languages in the administration of justice. Article 348 of the Constitution states that “the language of the High Court shall be the language of the State or Union territory in which the High Court is situated.” However, Article 349 also states that “if the High Court is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the persons whose cases are likely to come before the Court do not understand the language of the Court, it may, with the previous sanction of the President, direct that any proceedings before the Court shall be conducted in such other language as the Court may think fit.”
This means that regional languages can be used in the administration of justice, if the High Court is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the people whose cases are likely to come before the Court do not understand the language of the Court. This provision is important, as it helps to ensure that justice is accessible to all citizens, regardless of their language.
Conclusion
Schedule 4 of the Indian Constitution is an important part of the Indian Constitution, as it guarantees the right of all citizens to use their mother tongue in government and public affairs. It also helps to promote unity and diversity in India, as it recognizes the many different languages that are spoken in the country.