I am handling a 302 case and the alleged accused is a native of a North Indian State.Since the accused is not conversant in Tamil, i.e. the language of the Court in Tamil Nadu, I filed an application praying for furnishing of copies and charge sheet in Hindi and the presiding officer dismissed the same on the contention that the language of the court is Tamil and that the counsel for the accused is conversant in Tamil and English and therefore there is no need to furnish chargesheet or copies in Hindi.
Although the counsel knows the local language is it not a necessity that the charge sheet running to few hundreds of pages be translated into language known to accused to facilitate better defence so that accused can understand the charge and instruct his counsel.
207 of Cr.P.C does not speak about langauge or translation and 211 speaks about the language of court. Any other material in this regard would be helpful.