PART XVII[१]
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
CHAPTER I.––LANGUAGE OF THE UNION
Official language
of the Union
343. (1) The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (ı), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement:
Provided that the President may, during the said period, by order authorise the use of the Hindi language in addition to the English language and of the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the official purposes of the Union.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of––
- (a) the English language, or
- (b) the Devanagari form of numerals, for such purposes as may be specified in the law.
Commission and
Committee of
Parliament on
official language.
344. (1) The President shall, at the expiration of five year from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of ten years from such commencement, by order constitute a Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and such other members representing the different languages specified in the Eighth Schedule as the President may appoint, and the order shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.
- (2) It shall be the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to––
- (a) the progressive use of the Hindi language for the official purposes of the Union;
- (b) restrictions on the use of the English language for all or any of the official purposes of the Union;
- (c) the language to be used for all or any of the purposes mentioned in article 348;
- ↑ The provisions of this Part shall apply to the State of Jammu and Kashmir only in so far as they relate to––
(i) the official language of the Union;
(ii) the official language for communication between one State and another, or between a State and the Union; and
(iii) the language of the proceedings in the Supreme Court.
