Exemption from filing official translation in the Supreme Court
Updated 6 October 2026 · Reviewed by a human
An application for exemption from filing official translation is an interlocutory application, with affidavit and court fee, that you file in the Supreme Court when your papers include documents (or parts of documents) in a language other than English and you are not filing a translation of the kind the Rules require. The Registry checks for it at the filing counter. (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter)
What does “exemption from filing official translation” mean?
The Supreme Court Rules, 2013 do not let a document in another language be used in proceedings without an English translation of a particular kind. Order VIII Rule 2 says no such document “shall be used for the purpose of any proceedings before the Court” unless it is accompanied by: (Supreme Court Rules, 2013, Order VIII rule 2)
(a) a translation agreed to by both parties; or
(b) a translation certified to be a true translation by a translator appointed by the Court; or
(c) a translation by a translator appointed or approved and notified by the Court.
An Explanation to the rule applies it, “so far as may be”, to a document in English of which a part is in another language. So a mostly English document with a vernacular endorsement, stamp or handwritten note can be caught too. (Supreme Court Rules, 2013)
An exemption application asks the Court to dispense with filing the required translation to the extent its order permits. In office reports it appears as an I.A. listed with the main matter, for example “I.A. No. 19864 of 2023 (An application for exemption from filing official translation)”. Filing it does not itself grant an exemption. (Supreme Court office report, SLP (Crl.) No. 1316 of 2023 with I.A. No. 19864 of 2023)
The Rules do not define “official translation”. Read Order VIII rules 2 and 3 for the accepted routes: a translation agreed by both parties, a translation certified by a Court-appointed translator, or a translation by a translator appointed or approved and notified by the Court. A version prepared by a party is not automatically acceptable merely because it is in English.
What does the Registry checklist say?
The Court publishes the checklist its scrutiny assistants use at the filing counter. The translation item reads: (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter)
“If there are any vernacular documents/portions/lines and translation of such documents are not filed, whether application for exemption from filing Official Translation, with affidavit and court fee, has been filed”
The Court’s Handbook on Practice and Procedure carries a similar point in the checklist for applications: “Whether application for exemption from filing certified copy or official translation has been filed, wherever required?” (Supreme Court Handbook on Practice and Procedure and Office Procedure)
Other language-related items on the filing checklist are separate: (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter)
| Checklist item | What the Registry looks for |
|---|---|
| Vernacular documents, portions or lines | An English translation, or the exemption application with affidavit and court fee |
| Power of attorney | “whether the power of attorney in English/translated copy has been filed” |
| Statutory provisions | “The English version of the relevant provisions” referred to in the impugned judgment, filed as an appendix |
| Legibility | Petition, applications and accompanying documents “clear, legible and typed in double space on one side of the paper” |
Because these are separate items, an exemption for vernacular annexures should not be assumed to cover the power of attorney or the appendix of statutory provisions.
Who decides the application?
Order V Rule 1 of the Rules lets the Registrar exercise the Court’s powers on a list of routine matters. Item 25 on that list is “Application for exemption from filing official translation”. Item 11 covers applications “for appointment and for approval of a translator or interpreter”. (Supreme Court Rules, 2013, Order V rule 1)
Office reports record orders allowing such applications, for example “Application for exemption from filing official translation is allowed. Issue notice.” and “Applications seeking exemption from filing certified copy of the impugned order as also seeking exemption from filing official translation of Annexures are allowed.” The authority that decides and the extent of relief are fixed by the order in the particular proceeding. (Supreme Court office report, Diary No. 1301 of 2019; Supreme Court office report, Diary No. 9678 of 2021)
Who translates the documents afterwards, and who pays?
The Supreme Court’s Handbook sets out the Translation Cell process where documents are sent for translation: (Supreme Court Handbook on Practice and Procedure and Office Procedure)
Where a party has to bear the cost, the judicial branch marks the documents to be translated and sends the file to the Translation Cell.
The Translation Cell estimates the cost, and the file goes back so that “the estimated amount can be deposited by the party concerned”.
After the deposit, the documents are translated by a translator from the Registry’s register of translators.
Jail petitions are translated without cost to the party.
The Registry keeps “a panel of translators” for translating documents “from Hindi/vernacular language to English on payment of prescribed charges”.
After an exemption is granted, follow the terms of the order and any directions from the Bench or Registry. Arrange any translation the Court later requires. An exemption order is not, by itself, an instruction to the Translation Cell to translate every annexure.
The Translation Cell circular dated 27 February 2026 sets the remuneration payable to empanelled advocates and translators at Rs 200 per translated page of 200 words, with a minimum of Rs 200, for assignments allocated on or after 23 February 2026. After complete units of 200 words, a remainder exceeding 100 words counts as an additional page. A remainder of 100 words or fewer does not. This is the translator’s remuneration, not a published fee for litigants. The party’s deposit is set through the Registry’s estimate. (Translation Cell circular F.1/TC-4/2025-26 dated 27.02.2026)
Should you file your own translation instead?
You can, if it meets Order VIII. Rule 3 says every document required to be translated shall be translated by a translator appointed or approved and notified by the Court, with a proviso that a translation agreed to by both parties, or certified as true by a translator appointed or approved by the Court, “may be accepted”. (Supreme Court Rules, 2013, Order VIII rule 3)
| File a translation with the petition | Apply for exemption | |
|---|---|---|
| What you file | A translation that fits Order VIII Rule 2 | An I.A. with affidavit and court fee |
| Who does the translation | A Court-appointed or approved translator, or a version both sides agree | As directed in the proceeding. Translation Cell work follows the Registry’s process. |
| Cost | The translator’s fee | The application fee. Any translation deposit is separately directed. |
| What the Bench can read at the first hearing | The English text | Depends on the documents filed, the exemption order and any translation directions. |
Identify the documents needed for the hearing and arrange translations that comply with Order VIII. For documents covered by an exemption request, identify the annexures and the relief sought precisely. Our guide on certified, official or machine translation explains the translation categories. Our guide on Bombay High Court and Marathi documents covers Marathi records from Bombay High Court proceedings. Our guide on 7/12 extract in English covers 7/12 extracts.
A checklist before you file
List every vernacular page, portion and line, including stamps, endorsements and handwritten notes. (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter; Supreme Court Rules, 2013)
Decide which documents the Bench must read at the first hearing, and consider filing translations of those that meet Order VIII Rule 2. (Supreme Court Rules, 2013)
For the rest, file the exemption application with affidavit and court fee, naming the annexures and page numbers. (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter)
Check the power of attorney and the appendix of statutory provisions separately. They are their own checklist items. (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter)
Make sure any translation you file is clear, legible and double spaced. (Supreme Court of India, Check List for Scrutiny Assistants at Filing Counter)
Read the current Rules and the latest amendments on the Court’s website before filing. (Supreme Court Rules and amendments)
After listing, read the office report and the order to see whether the exemption was allowed and whether translations were directed.
Do not file a raw machine translation as if it were an official one. See Google Translate for legal documents.
Where NyayTranslate fits
NyayTranslate gives a working English draft of vernacular annexures, so you can read the record, brief counsel and decide what needs a formal translation. It is a machine translation. It is not a translation by a Court-appointed or approved translator, so it does not meet Order VIII Rule 2 on its own. It does not replace the exemption application or the Registry’s translation. Review its output against the original. (NyayTranslate website and FAQs)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; check the current rules and practice directions of your court.