Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud highlighted the importance of making law and legal education accessible to millions of Indian citizens. He emphasized that universities should collaborate to develop teaching modules in regional languages.

Speaking at the 3rd convocation of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU) in Lucknow, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud revealed the findings of a recent survey conducted by the Supreme Court's Research Department. The survey, which encompassed 81 universities and colleges, indicated that common people struggle to understand various schemes related to their rights due to the language barrier posed by English.

Justice Chandrachud, however, emphasized that English should not be eliminated as a medium of instruction for legal education. Instead, he advocated for the adoption of regional languages alongside English.

He suggested that legal theories and procedures could be effectively communicated to students and the general public through informative videos prepared in regional languages.

“In many countries across the world, both legal education and legal proceedings are conducted in the regional language, ensuring that all citizens can not only access the legal system but also aspire to be lawyers and judges.

“It is only when we teach core principles of law to our students efficiently while acquainting them with the local context and local legal terms, that we can create socially responsible lawyers in the future, who can truly understand the issues and concerns of the local community,” the CJI said.

“I often discuss with my colleagues and all the educationists of the country as to how the study of law can be taught in simple language. As such, there are certain rules and basic principles in different provisions of the Constitution. We teach those principles well in English, but we often find ourselves uncomfortable explaining those principles in regional languages,” Justice Chandrachud said.

“If we are not able to explain the principles of law to the general public in simple language, then it shows the lack of legal profession and legal education. This affects the common citizens, especially the weaker section of the society,” said the CJI who has taken initiatives for making available the top court’s judgments in Hindi and other regional languages. 

“When I came to Allahabad, after spending my life in Mumbai as a judge at Bombay High Court, it was culturally different for me. The proceedings in Bombay High Court are in English, and I found that before Allahabad High Court, local lawyers would often start presenting their case in Hindi. It made me realise the potential of lawyers to present their case efficiently even in their local language,” Justice Chandrachud said.