According to Article 120(1) of the Constitution of India, the business in…
2009
According to Article 120(1) of the Constitution of India, the business in Parliament is ordinarily transacted in which language or languages?
Answer: C. Both English and Hindi — ConceptA constitutional language provision must be read from its operative words, while keeping any proviso separate from the general rule. The general rule…
- A.
English only
- B.
Hindi only
- C.
Both English and Hindi
- D.
All languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
Attempted by 6 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
A constitutional language provision must be read from its operative words, while keeping any proviso separate from the general rule. The general rule determines the languages of parliamentary business; a proviso may allow a limited exception for an individual member.
Application
Article 120(1) states that business in Parliament is transacted in Hindi or in English, subject to Article 348. Its proviso allows the presiding officer to permit a member who cannot adequately express themselves in either language to address the House in their mother tongue.
Contrast
English only narrows the rule to one of the two languages named in the operative clause.
Hindi only also narrows the rule to one of the two languages named in the operative clause.
Both English and Hindi reproduces the two languages named in the operative clause.
The Eighth Schedule lists recognised languages, but Article 120 does not make all of them the general languages for transacting parliamentary business.
Cross-check
The mother-tongue proviso is permission for a member to address the House; it does not replace the general rule for parliamentary business. Therefore, the answer is Both English and Hindi.