State Act

Tamil Nadu Official Language Act, 1956

4-A. Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 2,3 and 4 Act or in the Code of Civil Procedure,1908 (Central Act V of 1908) or in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), Tamil shall be the language of all:- i. civil and criminal courts subordinate to the High Court; ii. tribunals ; and iii. rent courts and revenue courts, for the purpose of recording evidence in all proceedings: Provided that the Presiding Officer of any such court or tribunal may, in recording evidence in Tamil, employ English words and phrases, wherever he feels necessary, to bring out the exact purport and meaning: Provided further that the High Court may, by general or special order, permit:- i. any class of Presiding Officers of civil or criminal courts or tribunals, or ii. any Presiding Officer of any such court or tribunal, to record evidence in English in such circumstances and for such period as may be specified in such period as may be specified in such order: Provided also that the Board of Revenue may, by general or special order, permit:- i. any class of Presiding Officers of rent courts or revenue courts, or ii. any Presiding Officer of any such court,to record evidence in English in such circumstances and for such period as may be specified in such period as may be specified in such order. Explanation – In this section and in section 4-B, “rent court” or “revenue court” shall mean any court presided over by an officer of the Revenue Department.]