State Act

Tamil Nadu Official Language Act, 1956

[4-B (1) Not withstanding anything contained in sectons 2,3 and 4 of this 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), and subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), Tamil shall be the language of all. i. civil courts subordinate to the High Court; ii. criminal courts subordinate to the High Court; iii. tribunals; and iv. rent courts and revenue courts, for the purpose of writing judgments, decrees and orders: Provided that the Presiding Officer of any such court or tribunal may, in writing judgment, decrees and orders 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 write judgment, decrees and orders in English in such circumstances and for 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 write judgments and orders in English in such circumstances and for such period as may be specified in such order. (2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed in respect of:- i. civil courts subordinate to the High Court; ii. criminal courts subordinate to the High Court; iii. tribunals; and iv. rent courts and revenue Courts.]