Hindi Titles in Bills: Opposition Raises Concerns Over Constitutional Conventions
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A heated debate erupted in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday over the use of Hindi phrases in the titles of new legislation. The controversy surrounded the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, which seeks to allow foreign companies to own 100% in insurance firms in India and improve the regulatory regime. Opposition MPs, led by RSP's N K Premachandran, argued that a bill's title should clearly convey its purpose and content, and that the use of Hindi in the title of this bill blurred the line between governance and politics. Premachandran pointed out that Article 348 of the Constitution requires the authoritative text of bills to be in English, unless Parliament provides otherwise, and that the Official Languages Act, 1963, further reinforces this requirement. Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray echoed Premachandran's concerns, criticizing what he termed the "Hindiisation" of legislation. However, Speaker Om Birla clarified that the authoritative language of the amendment bill remains English, with Hindi used alongside it. Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju later dismissed the objections, arguing that both Hindi and English are used for official purposes in India and are permissible. He noted that objections to the introduction of bills are governed by Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha. The debate highlights the ongoing debate over the use of Hindi in official language and the balance between governance and politics in India's legislative process.
