India’s Supreme Court Flags Faulty English Translation of Trial Court Verdict

The Supreme Court has raised serious concerns over the poor quality of English translations of trial court judgments, underscoring the need for translations to faithfully convey the meaning and intent of the original text.

A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, while disposing of a civil appeal, observed that the English translation of a Civil Court judgment failed to reflect the true spirit of the original ruling. The Court stressed that in legal proceedings, “words carry critical significance” and that even a single word or punctuation mark can influence the interpretation of a case.

The bench emphasised that translations must be carried out with utmost care to accurately represent the reasoning and findings of lower courts, ensuring that appellate courts can properly understand the judgment’s substance.

“We express our dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Civil Court’s judgment has been translated into English,” the Court noted.

It further warned, “In legal matters, words are indispensable. Each word, every comma, affects the overall understanding of the issue. Proper care is essential to ensure the original meaning and intent are accurately conveyed in English, allowing appellate courts to fully comprehend the proceedings below.”

The bench also observed that this is not an isolated problem. Referring to a March 18, 2025 order in Chairman Managing Committee & Anr. v. Bhaveshkumar Manubhai Parakhia & Anr., the Court highlighted that a previous bench had similarly raised concerns about inaccurate judicial translations.

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