Part XVII - Official Language • Article

Article 349 Simplified: Special procedure for enactment of certain laws relating to language

Article 349 (Special procedure for enactment of certain laws relating to language) outlines general rules for legislative procedures, the language to be used in assemblies, or restrictions on discussions. It ensures the legislature conducts its work in a structured manner without interfering in active court cases.

Official Text

During the period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, no Bill or amendment making provision for the language to be used for any of the purposes mentioned in clause (1) of article 348 shall be introduced or moved in either House of Parliament without the previous sanction of the President, and the President shall not give his sanction to the introduction of any such Bill or the moving of any such amendment except after he has taken into consideration the recommendations of the Commission constituted under clause (1) of article 344 and the report of the Committee constituted under clause (4) of that article. C HAPTER IV.—S PECIAL D IRECTIVES

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

For the first 15 years of India, if anyone wanted to change the language used in courts or laws, they needed the President's approval first. The President had to check with language experts before deciding.

Student Mode

Details the special procedure for enactment of certain laws relating to language during the first fifteen years of the Constitution. No Bill or amendment affecting court/legislative languages (Article 348) could be introduced in Parliament without the President's prior sanction. The President could only grant this after considering the recommendations of the Official Language Commission (Article 344(1)) and Committee (Article 344(4)).

Example

For a real constitutional problem about special procedure for enactment of certain laws relating to language, Article 349 gives the starting rule and connects it to the wider system of constitutional governance.

Key Takeaway

Article 349 anchors special procedure for enactment of certain laws relating to language within India's constitutional system.

FAQs

Is Article 349 still active?

The text remains in the Constitution, but its primary restriction ('During the period of fifteen years...') expired in 1965. It represents a historic transitional safeguard designed to prevent hasty changes to judicial language.

Why was this 15-year limit created?

To ensure stability in the judiciary and legal draftsmanship immediately after independence, giving the country time to develop administrative Hindi and evaluate linguistic adjustments.

Quiz

Article 349's restriction on introducing bills relating to court languages without the President's sanction was limited to:

Answer: 15 years

Before giving sanction to a language bill under Article 349, the President was required to consider the recommendations of:

Answer: The Commission and Committee on Official Language