The language barrier can often leave people struggling to understand the letter of the law, but that will no longer be the case in Karnataka.
In a move that underscores the State government’s goal to prioritise Kannada in the public domain, for the first time ever, hundreds of Union laws and rules written in English have been translated into the official language of the State. The translation is not limited to only Union laws but also includes State Acts and rules, which are usually published in English. This initiative comes close on the heels of the demand for Kannada in Namma Metro signage and its implementation as an administrative language.
Kanaja.in, an online Kannada encyclopedia, has put out official translations of 239 Acts and rules: 118 Union and 121 State laws and rules. These include the Hindu Marriage Act and Rules, Armed Forces Special Powers Act and other Union laws, as well as the Cadre and Recruitment Rules, and Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, Karnataka Education Act among other State laws and rules.
Legal nuances
The challenge is to ensure that the legal nuances of the laws are not lost in translation. “The translations are official versions, and much thought and gate-keeping has gone into them,” said Vishu Kumar, Director, Kannada and Culture Department.
The laws and rules were translated by the Translation Directorate of the State, and were vetted by a panel of retired justices.
These were then approved by the Governor of the State, officials said, adding that the laws and rules translated were selected on the importance and relevance to the common man.
The move has earned much praise from the legal community in the State. Leading criminal lawyer C.H. Hanumantharaya said that this was the first step towards making laws in a language that people understand.