📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Flashthomsom
National
Jharkhand HC: Section 313 Questions Must Be Explained in Accused's Language
✍️ Live Law
🗓 27 Oct 2026, 09:01 PM
👁 1
The Jharkhand High Court has ruled that questions posed to an accused under Section 313 of the CrPC must be explained in a language the accused understands to ensure a fair trial.
The Jharkhand High Court has issued a significant directive regarding criminal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of linguistic clarity during the examination of the accused. The bench ruled that questions posed under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) must be explained to the accused in a language they comprehend.
This judicial observation underscores the fundamental right to a fair trial, ensuring that the accused can effectively respond to the charges leveled against them. The court highlighted that mere reading out of questions in a language unfamiliar to the accused does not satisfy the legal requirements of Section 313.
By mandating that the substance of the questions be explained in the accused's native or understood language, the High Court aims to prevent procedural technicalities from compromising the merits of the case. This ruling serves as a guideline for lower courts to ensure that the accused are not disadvantaged due to language barriers during critical stages of the trial.
This judicial observation underscores the fundamental right to a fair trial, ensuring that the accused can effectively respond to the charges leveled against them. The court highlighted that mere reading out of questions in a language unfamiliar to the accused does not satisfy the legal requirements of Section 313.
By mandating that the substance of the questions be explained in the accused's native or understood language, the High Court aims to prevent procedural technicalities from compromising the merits of the case. This ruling serves as a guideline for lower courts to ensure that the accused are not disadvantaged due to language barriers during critical stages of the trial.