Poor English Translations Hinders Justice: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court strongly criticised the poor quality of English translations of trial court judgments, warning that such lapses undermined the judicial process.

The Bench emphasised that in legal proceedings, “words were of indispensable importance” and that “each word, every comma had an impact on the overall understanding of the matter.”

The Court directed all subordinate courts to ensure accurate and certified translations, noting that flawed versions could mislead appellate forums and compromise procedural justice.

The Court stressed that translations must accurately reflect the original text so appellate courts can clearly understand the lower court’s reasoning.

[Zoharbee and another v Imam Khan (D) through LRS and others]