The Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice / Legislative Department
Act details
| Short title | The Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for authoritative texts of Central laws in certain languages. |
| Act number | 50 of 1973 |
| Act year | 1973 |
| Enactment date | 5 Dec 1973 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Law and Justice / Legislative Department |
| Department | Legislative Department |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 3 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 3 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of the Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973
Objective
The Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973 was enacted to provide authoritative texts of Central laws in languages specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (other than Hindi). The Act aims to make Central laws accessible in regional languages while giving officially published translations legal authenticity.
Key Provisions
• Authoritative Texts: Declares that translations of Central Acts, Ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, and bye-laws published under the authority of the President in the Official Gazette shall be the authoritative texts in the respective language.
• Applicable Languages: Applies to translations in languages specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, excluding Hindi.
• Official Publication: Requires that the translations be published in the Official Gazette under the authority of the President to acquire legal validity.
• Rule-making Power: Empowers the Central Government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act, subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
Legislative history
Legislative History: The Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973
Source:
Key Legislative Metadata
Legislative Stage / Attribute Official Details
Act Title The Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973
Act Number Act No. 50 of 1973
Act ID (India Code) 197350
Presidential Assent Date December 5, 1973
Enforcement Date July 1, 1981
Nodal Ministry Ministry of Law and Justice
Precedent & Historical Rationale
1. Rationale & Context: Rooted in the constitutional framework promoting linguistic accessibility, the Act was designed to bridge the language gap in legal administration, ensuring that central statutes are accessible to citizens across diverse linguistic backgrounds.
2. The Legislative Problem: While Hindi translations and provisions for official language use existed constitutionally, Central Acts enacted in English lacked a direct statutory framework to grant official, legally binding status to their translations in other regional languages listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
3. The Remedy: Parliament enacted The Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973 to empower the President to authorize and publish official translations of Central Acts, Ordinances, rules, and regulations in any Eighth Schedule language, giving them the formal status of "authoritative texts”.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation: Conceptualized and drafted by the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice to operationalize linguistic inclusivity and legal transparency across the country.
● Parliamentary Passage: Reviewed and passed by both Houses of Parliament during the winter session of 1973.
● Presidential Assent:Received formal assent from the President of India on December 5, 1973.
● Enforcement: Enforced on July 1, 1981.