Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 314
Interpretation of evidence to accused or his advocate
(1) Whenever any evidence is given in a language not understood by the accused, and he is present in Court in person, it shall be interpreted to him in open Court in a language understood by him.
(2) If he appears by an advocate and the evidence is given in a language other than the language of the Court, and not understood by the advocate, it shall be interpreted to such advocate in that language.
(3) When documents are put for the purpose of formal proof, it shall be in the discretion of the Court to interpret as much thereof as appears necessary.
Why this exists
A fair trial requires the accused to understand what is being said against them. This provision, from Section 279 of the old CrPC, makes real-time interpretation mandatory so that a language barrier cannot silently undermine an accused person's ability to follow and respond to the case against them.