The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the substandard English translation of a trial court judgment, stressing that translations must accurately reflect 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, noted that the English version of the Civil Court’s judgment failed to convey the true spirit of the original ruling. The Court emphasized that in legal proceedings, “words carry critical significance” and that “every word and punctuation mark can affect the overall interpretation of the matter.”

The bench highlighted that translations must be executed with utmost care to ensure they faithfully represent the substance and reasoning of the lower court, enabling appellate courts to properly understand the findings and logic of the original judgment.

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

The Court further stressed, “In legal matters, words are of indispensable importance. Each word, every comma, influences the overall comprehension of the issue. Proper care must be exercised so that the true meaning and intent of the original language are conveyed in English, allowing appellate courts to fully grasp the proceedings below.”

The bench also noted that this issue is not isolated. Referring to a prior order dated March 18, 2025, in Chairman Managing Committee & Anr. v. Bhaveshkumar Manubhai Parakhia & Anr., the Court recalled that a coordinate bench had similarly raised concerns regarding inaccurate translations of judicial documents.

Case Reference: Zoharbee & Another v. Imam Khan (D) through LRS & Others