Article 120

Article 120 of the Constitution of India establishes the constitutional framework governing the language to be used in parliamentary proceedings. It is a part of Part XVII (Articles 343–351), which deals with the official languages of the Union and the States. This article seeks to maintain a balance between promoting Hindi as the official language and ensuring linguistic inclusivity by allowing the continued use of English and, in certain cases, regional languages, in the functioning of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Constitutional Context and Objective

When India adopted its Constitution in 1950, the nation’s linguistic diversity posed significant challenges to creating a uniform language policy. While Hindi was designated as the official language of the Union under Article 343, English was retained for a transitional period to ensure smooth administration and inclusivity.
Article 120 was framed within this context to regulate the language used in Parliament, ensuring that members could effectively participate in legislative debates and proceedings irrespective of their linguistic background. It thereby embodies the constitutional commitment to unity in diversity and democratic participation.

Clause (1): Languages Permitted in Parliamentary Proceedings

According to Article 120(1), the business of Parliament shall be transacted in either Hindi or English. This provision provides constitutional legitimacy to bilingual functioning within the national legislature.
However, it also includes an important safeguard for linguistic inclusivity:

• If a member of Parliament is unable to adequately express themselves in Hindi or English, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha may permit the use of the member’s mother tongue for the purpose of debate or speech.

This flexibility ensures that every representative, regardless of linguistic proficiency, can meaningfully contribute to parliamentary discussions. It reflects the spirit of India’s multilingual democracy and prevents linguistic exclusion in the national decision-making process.
The clause is also subject to Article 348, which governs the use of languages in the Supreme Court, High Courts, and legislative drafting, ensuring consistency across the judicial and legislative domains.

Clause (2): Continuation of English Language Use

Under Article 120(2), it was initially provided that the expression “or in English” in clause (1) would cease to have effect after 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution (that is, after 26 January 1965), unless Parliament enacted a law to continue the use of English.
However, the Official Languages Act, 1963, as amended in 1967, extended the use of English indefinitely alongside Hindi for official and legislative purposes. As a result, English continues to be used as one of the principal languages of Parliament.
This legislative action was taken to address concerns raised by non-Hindi-speaking states, particularly in southern India, ensuring that linguistic diversity was respected within the Union’s administrative and legislative framework.

Historical Background

The debate over the language policy was one of the most contentious issues in the Constituent Assembly. The framers of the Constitution faced the challenge of reconciling two competing objectives:

• Promoting Hindi as the national language to foster unity and national identity.
• Preserving linguistic pluralism and preventing the alienation of non-Hindi-speaking regions.

Members such as T.T. Krishnamachari, R.V. Dhulekar, and Jawaharlal Nehru played key roles in framing a balanced approach. The compromise adopted by the Assembly ensured that Hindi would be promoted progressively while English would continue as an associate official language for as long as necessary.

Related Constitutional Provisions

Article 120 operates in conjunction with several other constitutional provisions concerning language policy:

• Article 343: Declares Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union, while allowing the continued use of English for official purposes.
• Article 346: Specifies the language to be used for communication between the Union and the States, and between the States themselves.
• Article 347: Empowers the President to recognise a language spoken by a substantial portion of a State’s population for official use within that State.
• Article 348: Governs the use of English and Hindi in courts, legal documents, and legislative enactments.
• Article 351: Directs the Union to promote the development of Hindi as a medium of expression for all elements of India’s composite culture.

Judicial and Legislative Interpretations

There are no major Supreme Court judgments directly interpreting Article 120, as its implementation has largely been smooth and non-contentious. However, broader judicial pronouncements on language policy, such as those concerning linguistic rights and regional language use in education and administration, reinforce the principle of linguistic equality embodied in Article 120.
Parliament itself retains the authority to legislate on language use under this article. The Official Languages Act and related rules continue to guide language usage in parliamentary proceedings, ensuring compliance with both constitutional and administrative requirements.

Practical Implications

In practice, Hindi and English remain the two primary languages used in both Houses of Parliament. Simultaneous translation facilities are provided to members, enabling them to follow proceedings irrespective of the language used by other members.
Key practical features include:

• Members may address the House in Hindi, English, or, with permission, their mother tongue or regional language.
• Simultaneous interpretation services are available for major Indian languages, promoting inclusivity.
• Legislative Bills, motions, and resolutions are generally drafted in both Hindi and English, ensuring accessibility and uniform understanding.
• The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats maintain bilingual records and reports of all proceedings.

Contemporary Debates and Linguistic Concerns

Despite the constitutional balance established by Article 120, debates over language use in Parliament and public administration continue to surface.

• Advocates of Hindi argue for greater promotion of the national language in all official domains.
• Non-Hindi-speaking states emphasise linguistic equality and resist any move perceived as imposing Hindi.

Significance of Article 120

Article 120 is a cornerstone of India’s linguistic democracy, reflecting both constitutional pragmatism and cultural inclusivity. Its significance lies in:

• Ensuring participation: It enables every Member of Parliament to communicate effectively, regardless of language barriers.
• Balancing national unity and diversity: It promotes Hindi while accommodating English and regional languages.
• Preventing linguistic dominance: It safeguards the rights of non-Hindi speakers and upholds linguistic equality.
• Facilitating governance: It allows the Parliament to function efficiently without linguistic disputes hampering legislative business.

Current Status

In contemporary practice, both Hindi and English continue to be used officially in Parliament. The 15-year limitation on English, envisaged in Article 120(2), was lifted through parliamentary legislation, ensuring bilingual continuity. Modern parliamentary proceedings also embrace the use of translation technologies and interpretation services to reflect India’s 21st-century linguistic pluralism.

Conclusion

Article 120 remains a testament to India’s constitutional vision of inclusivity and unity amid diversity. By permitting the use of Hindi, English, and, when necessary, mother tongues, it ensures that Parliament — the supreme representative body of the people — remains accessible to all linguistic groups. It reinforces the ideals of democracy, equality, and national integration, ensuring that language never becomes a barrier to representation or participation in the nation’s legislative process.