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Section137
The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

Language of subordinate Courts

In force From 01 Jan 1909 Act 5 of 1908 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 5 of 1908 Ministry Law and Justice Enacted 21 Mar 1908 In force 01 Jan 1909

Section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 deals with language of subordinate Courts. The language which, on the commencement of this Code, is the language of any Court subordinate to a High Court shall continue to be the language of such subordinate Court until the State Government otherwise directs. The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1909.

(1) The language which, on the commencement of this Code, is the language of any Court subordinate to a High Court shall continue to be the language of such subordinate Court until the State Government otherwise directs.

(2) The State Government may declare what shall be the language of any such Court and in what character applications to and proceedings in such Courts shall be written.

(3) Where this Court requires or allows anything other that the recording of evidence to be done in writing in any such Court, such writing may be in English; but if any party or his pleader is unacquainted with English a translation into the language of the Court shall, at his request, be supplied to him; and the Court shall make such order as it thinks fit in respect of the payment of the costs of such translation. STATE AMENDMENT

Rajasthan

Amendment of section 137, Central Act V of 1908.-In section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act V of 1908), in its application to the State of Rajasthan, for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:-

(3) Wherever this Code requires or allows anything other than the recording of evidence to be done in writing in any such court, such writing shall be in Hindi in Devnagri Script with the interna-tional form of Indian numerals :

Provided that the court may in its discretion accept such writing in English on the undertaking of the party filing such writing, to file a Hindi translation of the same, within such time as may be granted by the court and the opposite party shall have a right to have a copy of such writing in Hindi.

]Vide Rajasthan Act 7 of 1983, s. 2]

Section 137, The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908).

Questions about Section 137

What does Section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure deal with?

Section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure is headed "Language of subordinate Courts". The language which, on the commencement of this Code, is the language of any Court subordinate to a High Court shall continue to be the language of such subordinate Court until the State Government otherwise directs.

How do I find court cases under Section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: CPC 137, section 137 CPC, section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

When did Section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure come into force?

Section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure, cited as CPC 137, came into force on 01 Jan 1909, having been enacted on 21 Mar 1908. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.