NEW DELHI: Jumping into the debate of whether Hindi should be considered the national language, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Sunday said only English is permissible in its proceedings even as the Central regime and its affiliates are pushing for more use of Hindi in the workings of the government and a probable replacement of the English language.
Prohibiting use of Hindi during its proceedings, the NGT made it clear that a litigant, who appears before it as party-in-person, must submit documents only in English. The NGT showed the rule book to religious group Ojasvi Party, which approached it seeking clarification after the tribunal dismissed its earlier petition for not submitting documents translated in English.
“The plea submits that the applicants were under delusion that Hindi being the national language, the tribunal must entertain applications moved in Hindi. However, now his delusion is removed and he understands that business of the tribunal has to be conducted in English as per Rule 33 of the NGT (Practice and Procedure) Rules, 2011” said a Bench headed by Justice U D Salvi.
“Considering these submissions and record before us, which reveals that the English version of original appeal was filed on September 24, 2015, we allow this application and restore the application to the file. However, all the applications moved therein in Hindi without there being English translation on record would stand dismissed,” the Bench added.
The group had approached the tribunal in 2015 against pollution caused in river Yamuna due to slaughtering of cattle.