Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said that conducting court proceedings in Odia, the mother tongue of Odisha, will make the justice system more accessible and beneficial for people from all sections of society.
Addressing the 54th Annual Conference of the All Odisha Lawyers Association held in Sambalpur, Shri Pradhan said that, as per the National Education Policy, education should be imparted in the mother tongue. Similarly, to make India’s justice delivery system accessible to the common people, it must be based on the mother tongue. He said Odia should be the working language in all courts of Odisha.
He stated that the mother tongue is the most natural and effective medium of expression. Only when language barriers are removed can people at the lowest rungs of society access fair and timely justice.
Shri Pradhan praised the unity and solidarity displayed by the legal community of Odisha, saying that the message emerging from the historic city of Sambalpur was inspiring. He described lawyers as the primary guardians of the Constitution and democracy. He said their role is crucial in the journey towards building a developed Odisha and a developed India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that the dedication and service-oriented approach of lawyers in delivering justice and safeguarding the rights of common citizens can help create a healthy and just society.
Highlighting the intellectual strength of Odia lawyers, the Union Minister cited Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das as a shining example. He said that despite being a Christian by faith, Madhusudan Das fought for the rights of Lord Jagannath, and due to his foresight and sense of responsibility, the Jagannath culture remains preserved today. He stressed the need to emulate such responsibility and work towards increasing the presence and influence of Odias in the Supreme Court.
Shri Pradhan said the coming century is crucial for Odisha. As the state approaches 100 years of its formation in 2036 and the nation completes 100 years of independence in 2047, India’s justice system must become fully Indian in character and mother tongue-based. He called for moving away from Western thought processes and embracing Indian culture and values in the justice system.
