Page:The Constitution of the Czechoslovak Republic.pdf/50

 It shall be the duty of courts, offices and organs of the Republic whose competence relates to a jurisdictional district in which according to the latest census at least 20% of the citizens speak the same language—and that a language other than Czechoslovak—to accept (in all matters which they have to settle on the ground of their competence applying to such a district) from any member of this minority any plaints in this language and to deal with plaints not only in the Czechoslovak language but also in that in which the plaint itself is presented. Where there are several district courts in one community that whole community shall be deemed to be a single jurisdictional district.

It shall be laid down by regulation to what extent and for what courts and offices it will be possible to restrict the settlement of cases to the language of the parties themselves. These courts and offices are those whose competence is limited to one district, namely a district with such a national minority, as well as courts and offices immediately subordinate to them.

Under similar conditions it is the duty of the Public Prosecutor to frame the charges against an accused speaking another tongue in this language too, or even in this language alone.

The executive authority shall determine in such cases what language shall be used.

If the party to any matter is not the initiator of the proceedings, he shall (if the other conditions of § 2 are fulfilled) be entitled on the same principles to have his case dealt with also in his own language, or even in it alone so far as it is known, or otherwise at his request.

In districts where there lives a national minority in the terms of § 2 the language of the national minority shall be used concurrently with the Czechoslovak language in proclamations and notices issued by the state courts, offices and organs and for their inscriptions and designations.

It is the duty of autonomic offices, representative councils and all public corporations in the state whatsoever to accept and to deal with oral or written matter in the Czechoslovak language.

It shall always be possible to make use of this language in meetings and conferences; proposals and suggestions put forward in this language must be dealt with.

The state executive authority shall determine upon the language to be used for public proclamations and notices and for the inscriptions and designations for which the autonomic ofﬁces are responsible.

It is the duty of the autonomic offices, representative councils and public corporations to accept—under the conditions of § 2—all