Tamil debuts in High Court room

MADURAI: For the first time in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, lawyers argued their cases in Tamil on Wednesday.

Some lawyers of the Bench resorted to an ‘indefinite’ fast on Tuesday at the Bench complex demanding that Tamil be made the language of the courts.

The Registrars of the Bench, who held discussions with the fasting lawyers, said that their demand would be referred to the authorities, following which the agitation was withdrawn.

On Wednesday, when the Justices came on their respective benches, advocate Bhagat Singh appearing before Justice G M Akbar Ali, argued in Tamil an appeal regarding a bank loan.

Similarly, advocate Vanchinathan addressed the Bench of Justice K Venkatraman while appearing as counsel for a prisoner seeking release.

Appearing for the petitioner seeking anticipatory bail, before Justice M M Sundaresu, advocate Jinnah presented his argument in Tamil. Some other lawyers also argued their cases in Tamil.

The Judges, listened to the arguments in Tamil with interest and when the lawyers found it difficult to find the Tamil words for English legal terms, helped them with the proper words, much to the joy of the lawyers.