Part XVII: Official Language

Article 344: Commission and Committee of Parliament on Official Language

Original Article:

(1) The President shall, at the expiration of five years 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 proceedings in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts;
• (d) the form of numerals to be used for any one or more specified purposes of the Union;
• (e) any other matter referred to the Commission by the President as regards the official language of the Union and the language for communication between the Union and a State or between one State and another and their use.

(3) The President shall cause every recommendation made by the Commission under clause (2) together with an explanatory memorandum as to the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament and shall appoint a Committee consisting of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be members of the House of the People and ten shall be members of the Council of States, to be elected respectively by the members of the House of the People and the members of the Council of States in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, to examine the recommendations of the Commission and to report to the President their opinion thereon.

Explanations:

Article 344 establishes mechanisms for the progressive adoption of Hindi as the official language of the Union. It also provides for a Commission and a Parliamentary Committee to evaluate and implement language-related policies, ensuring a balanced approach to linguistic diversity and practical governance needs.

Clause-by-Clause Explanation:

Clause (1): Constitution of a Language Commission

The President is required to appoint a Language Commission at specified intervals to recommend measures for the progressive use of Hindi for official purposes.

Real-Life Example: The first Language Commission was constituted in 1955 to evaluate the status of Hindi and make recommendations on its progressive use.

Clause (2): Duties of the Commission

The Commission makes recommendations on the progressive use of Hindi, restrictions on English, language use in higher courts, numeral formats, and inter-state communication languages.

Real-Life Example: Recommendations from the Language Commission informed the Official Languages Act, 1963, which allowed continued use of English alongside Hindi.

Clause (3): Role of the Parliamentary Committee

A Parliamentary Committee evaluates the recommendations of the Language Commission and reports its opinion to the President, ensuring democratic oversight of language policy.

Real-Life Example: The Parliamentary Committee's reports have shaped language policies, balancing the interests of Hindi-speaking and non-Hindi-speaking regions.

Amendments:

No direct amendments have been made to Article 344. However, language policies influenced by this Article, such as the Official Languages Act, 1963, reflect its implementation in governance.

Historical Significance:

Article 344 demonstrates India's commitment to linguistic inclusivity and gradual policy implementation, reflecting the diverse linguistic heritage of the country and addressing regional sensitivities.

Real-Life Examples:

Language Policy Development: The reports of the Language Commission led to the Official Languages Act, 1963, ensuring practical governance through bilingual policies.

Parliamentary Debates: Debates on extending the use of English reflect ongoing efforts to balance regional language aspirations with national goals.