Language Controversy around New Criminal Laws: A Balanced Perspective

The introduction of the New Criminal Laws in India has led to significant debate over the language used in their short titles. Several petitions have been filed in courts and beyond, urging the Central Government to rename these Acts. Recently, the Kerala High Court dismissed one such petition.

- Himanshu Dixit

Critics argue that the titles, rooted in North Indian linguistic traditions, are unfair to India’s diverse populace and could also violate Article 348(1)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates the use of English in the authoritative texts of Central Acts. In contrast, supporters of the indigenous names like ‘Bhartiya,’ ‘Nyaya,’ ‘Sanhita,’ and ‘Sakshya’ emphasize their cultural significance and argue that these terms foster national unity.

Professor Anurag Deep from the Indian Law Institute highlights that these native terms resonate across various Indian languages, not just Hindi, and serve as symbols of a shared identity. This approach mirrors global trends, such as Turkey’s preference for ‘Türkiye’ over its English equivalent, emphasizing the cultural importance of native terms. In addition to the above, not all languages have their accurate and precise English equivalents due to the limited English vocabulary.