Legal Glossary & Latin Maxims (India)
Legal terms and Latin maxims in plain English, with Hindi and the section of law.
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Glossary
819 entries, A–Z. Showing the first 40.
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A fortiori
LatinLiterally: “From the stronger reason”
With even greater force: if one thing is true, another follows all the more.
Example If a police officer cannot record a confession, a fortiori a constable cannot.
Hindi सुतराम्; प्रबलतर युक्ति से
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A priori
LatinLiterally: “From what comes before”
Reasoning from general principles or assumed causes, rather than from observed facts.
Example The court refused to assume a priori that every gift between relatives was a sham.
Hindi कारण-कार्य तर्क
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Ab initio
LatinLiterally: “From the beginning”
Treated as invalid or effective from the very start, not merely from the time a defect is discovered.
Example A marriage that was void ab initio never had any legal effect.
Hindi आदितः; आरंभ से ही
See also Void marriage
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Abatement
The ending of a suit or appeal because a party has died and no legal representative was brought on record within the time allowed.
Example The appeal abated because the deceased respondent’s heirs were not substituted within ninety days.
Hindi उपशमन
Law Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Order XXII, rule 3; Limitation Act, 1963, Schedule, art. 120
See also Legal representative
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Abduction
Compelling a person by force, or inducing him by deceit, to go from any place. Unlike kidnapping it applies to persons of any age and is punishable only with the purpose behind it.
Example Forcing the witness into a car to stop her deposing was abduction.
Hindi अपहरण
Law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 138 (formerly IPC s. 362)
See also Kidnapping
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Abetment
Instigating a person to do a thing, engaging in a conspiracy for doing it, or intentionally aiding its doing. The abettor can be punished even if the offence is not committed.
Example Handing over the weapon with knowledge of the plan made him liable for abetment of murder.
Hindi दुष्प्रेरण
Law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 45 (formerly IPC s. 107); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 46 (formerly IPC s. 108)
See also Abettor , Criminal conspiracy
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Abetment of suicide
Instigating or intentionally aiding a person to commit suicide. Where a married woman dies by suicide within seven years of marriage after cruelty, the court may presume abetment.
Example The husband was convicted of abetment of suicide on the basis of her letters describing harassment.
Hindi आत्महत्या का दुष्प्रेरण
Law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 108 (formerly IPC s. 306); Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s. 117 (formerly Evidence Act s. 113A)
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Abettor
A person who abets an offence, or abets an act that would be an offence if done by a person capable in law of committing it.
Example The cousin who lured the child out was an abettor of the kidnapping.
Hindi दुष्प्रेरक
Law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 46 (formerly IPC s. 108)
See also Abetment
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Absolute liability
The rule, laid down by the Supreme Court in M.C. Mehta v. Union of India after the oleum gas leak, that an enterprise engaged in a hazardous or inherently dangerous activity is liable for all harm it causes, with none of the exceptions of strict liability.
Example The chemical plant was under absolute liability for the injuries from the gas leak.
Hindi आत्यंतिक दायित्व
See also Strict liability
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Acceptance
The assent of the person to whom a proposal is made, signified to the proposer. An acceptance must be absolute and unqualified and must be communicated.
Example The supplier’s email “we accept your order of 12 March” was a valid acceptance.
Hindi प्रतिग्रहण
Law Indian Contract Act, 1872, s. 2(b); Indian Contract Act, 1872, s. 7
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Accessorium sequitur principale
LatinLiterally: “The accessory follows the principal”
Things attached to or forming part of a principal thing pass with it unless excluded — a transfer of land carries its easements and fixtures.
Example The sale of the house carried the right of way to the main road, as accessorium sequitur principale.
Hindi गौण मुख्य का अनुसरण करता है
Law Transfer of Property Act, 1882, s. 8
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Accomplice
A person who took part in the commission of the crime with the accused. A conviction may rest on his testimony, but courts usually look for corroboration before relying on it.
Example The accomplice turned approver described how the bank was robbed.
Hindi सह-अपराधी
Law Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s. 138 (formerly Evidence Act s. 133)
See also Approver , Corroboration
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Accused
A person charged with, or suspected of, an offence in a criminal case.
Example The accused was produced before the magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
Hindi अभियुक्त
See also Complainant
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Acid attack
Causing permanent or partial damage, deformity or burns, or disabling a person, by throwing or administering acid with intent or knowledge. It carries at least ten years’ imprisonment and a fine paid to the victim.
Example The court awarded the fine in the acid attack case to the survivor for her treatment.
Hindi अम्ल प्रहार
Law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 124 (formerly IPC s. 326A)
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Acquittal
A court’s finding, after trial, that the accused is not guilty of the offence charged.
Example The State appealed against the acquittal to the High Court.
Hindi दोषमुक्ति
Law Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, s. 255 (formerly CrPC s. 232); Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, s. 271 (formerly CrPC s. 248); Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, s. 419 (formerly CrPC s. 378)
See also Conviction , Discharge
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Act
A law made by Parliament or a State Legislature, after a Bill has been passed and received assent.
Example The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 is an Act of Parliament.
Hindi अधिनियम
Law General Clauses Act, 1897, s. 3(7); Constitution of India, art. 111; Constitution of India, art. 200
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Act of God
A natural event so extraordinary that it could not have been foreseen or guarded against, such as an unprecedented flood, which is a defence to liability.
Example The unprecedented cloudburst that breached the dam was treated as an act of God.
Hindi दैवकृत; दैवी कृत्य
See also Vis major , Actus dei nemini facit injuriam
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Actio personalis moritur cum persona
LatinLiterally: “A personal action dies with the person”
Certain personal causes of action, such as defamation or assault, do not survive the death of the person who could sue or be sued, though actions affecting the estate do.
Example The defamation suit abated on the plaintiff’s death under actio personalis moritur cum persona.
Hindi कार्रवाई का व्यक्तिगत अधिकार व्यक्ति की मृत्यु के साथ समाप्त हो जाता है
Law Indian Succession Act, 1925, s. 306
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Actionable claim
A claim to an unsecured debt, or to a beneficial interest in movable property not in one’s possession, which the civil courts recognise as giving a ground for relief — such as a book debt. It can be transferred by a written instrument.
Example The supplier transferred its actionable claim against the customer to a factoring company.
Hindi अनुयोज्य दावा
Law Transfer of Property Act, 1882, s. 3; Transfer of Property Act, 1882, s. 130
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Actori incumbit onus probandi
LatinLiterally: “The burden of proof lies on the plaintiff”
The party who asserts a fact and asks for relief must prove it.
Example The landlord who alleged subletting had to prove it — actori incumbit onus probandi.
Hindi सबूत का भार वादी या अभियोक्ता पर होता है
Law Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s. 104 (formerly Evidence Act s. 101)
See also Burden of proof , Onus probandi
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Actus curiae neminem gravabit
LatinLiterally: “An act of the court shall prejudice no one”
A party should not suffer because of the court’s own delay or mistake; the court will put him back in the position he would have been in.
Example Since the delay was the registry’s fault, the court applied actus curiae neminem gravabit and allowed the late filing.
Hindi न्यायालय का कार्य किसी को हानि नहीं पहुंचाएगा
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Actus dei nemini facit injuriam
LatinLiterally: “An act of God does no injury to anyone”
No one is liable for damage caused by an act of God — an extraordinary natural event that could not be foreseen or prevented.
Example The farmer could not be sued for the tree that the unprecedented storm threw onto the road.
Hindi दैवी कृत्य से किसी को क्षति नहीं होती
See also Act of God , Vis major
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Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea
LatinLiterally: “An act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty”
The basic principle of criminal liability: a crime needs both a guilty act and a guilty mind, except where a statute imposes strict liability.
Example The child who innocently carried a parcel of drugs lacked mens rea and was not guilty.
Hindi जब तक मन दोषी न हो, केवल कृत्य किसी को अपराधी नहीं बनाता
See also Mens rea , Actus reus
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Actus reus
LatinLiterally: “A guilty act”
The physical element of a crime — the act, omission or state of affairs the law prohibits.
Example Taking the wallet was the actus reus of theft; intending to keep it was the mens rea.
Hindi आपराधिक कार्य
Law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 2(1) (formerly IPC s. 33)
See also Mens rea
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Ad hoc
LatinLiterally: “For this purpose”
Made or done for a particular purpose only, not as a general rule — such as an ad hoc committee or appointment.
Example An ad hoc judge was appointed to make up the quorum.
Hindi तदर्थ
Law Constitution of India, art. 127
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Ad idem
LatinLiterally: “At the same point”
Of the same mind; used for parties who agree on the same thing in the same sense.
Example There was no contract because the parties were never ad idem about the price.
Hindi एक ही बात पर
Law Indian Contract Act, 1872, s. 13
See also Consensus ad idem
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Ad infinitum
LatinLiterally: “To infinity”
Endlessly, without limit.
Example Adjournments cannot be granted ad infinitum.
Hindi अनंत काल तक
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Ad interim
LatinLiterally: “In the meantime”
Temporary, until a further order — such as an ad interim injunction granted before the other side is heard.
Example The court granted an ad interim stay until the next hearing.
Hindi अंतःकालीन; अंतरिम
See also Interim order
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Ad litem
LatinLiterally: “For the suit”
For the purpose of the case only — as with a guardian ad litem appointed to defend a minor’s interests in litigation.
Example The court appointed the minor’s uncle as guardian ad litem.
Hindi वादार्थ
Law Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Order XXXII, rule 3
See also Guardian ad litem , Next friend
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Ad valorem
LatinLiterally: “According to the value”
A duty or tax calculated as a percentage of the value of the goods or transaction, rather than a fixed amount.
Example Stamp duty on the sale deed was charged ad valorem at five per cent.
Hindi मूल्यानुसार
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Adjournment
Putting off the hearing of a case to a later date. A court may grant it for sufficient cause, but in a civil suit no party gets more than three adjournments.
Example The court refused a fourth adjournment and closed the defendant’s evidence.
Hindi स्थगन
Law Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Order XVII, rule 1
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Admissibility
Whether a piece of evidence may be received by the court under the rules of evidence. Relevant evidence is generally admissible, unless a rule (such as the bar on confessions to the police) excludes it.
Example The court ruled on the admissibility of the WhatsApp chats only after the certificate was produced.
Hindi ग्राह्यता
Law Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s. 3 (formerly Evidence Act s. 5)
See also Relevant fact
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Admission
An oral, documentary or electronic statement by a party, or a person connected with him, that suggests an inference about a fact in issue or a relevant fact. It can be proved against the person making it.
Example The tenant’s letter apologising for “the overdue rent” was an admission that rent was owed.
Hindi स्वीकृति
Law Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s. 15 (formerly Evidence Act s. 17); Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s. 19 (formerly Evidence Act s. 21)
See also Confession
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Admission of documents
A party’s acceptance that a document produced by the other side is genuine, so that it need not be formally proved.
Example Once the bank admitted the loan agreement, the borrower did not have to call a witness to prove it.
Hindi दस्तावेजों की स्वीकृति
Law Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Order XII, rule 2
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Adoption
The legal process by which a child becomes the lawful child of the adoptive parents, with all the rights of a child born to them and severed from the birth family.
Example The couple completed the adoption through the authority’s online process.
Hindi दत्तक-ग्रहण
Law Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, ss. 7–12; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, s. 56
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Adult suffrage
The right of every citizen aged eighteen or more to be registered as a voter, unless disqualified by law.
Example Adult suffrage means a first-time voter’s vote counts the same as anyone else’s.
Hindi वयस्क मताधिकार
Law Constitution of India, art. 326
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Adverse possession
Open, continuous and hostile possession of another’s land, to the owner’s knowledge, for the period of limitation — twelve years for private land — after which the owner’s title is extinguished and the possessor can claim title.
Example The encroacher’s claim of adverse possession failed because he admitted he was a licensee.
Hindi प्रतिकूल कब्जा
Law Limitation Act, 1963, Schedule, art. 65; Limitation Act, 1963, s. 27
See also Possession , Nec vi, nec clam, nec precario
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Advocate
A person entered on the roll of a State Bar Council, entitled to practise law and appear for clients before courts and tribunals.
Example Only an advocate enrolled with a Bar Council can sign and argue a writ petition for a client.
Hindi अधिवक्ता
Law Advocates Act, 1961, s. 2(1)(a); Advocates Act, 1961, s. 30
See also Senior Advocate , Advocate-on-record , Vakalatnama
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Advocate-on-record
An advocate registered with the Supreme Court who alone may file pleadings and appearances for a party there, after passing the Court’s examination.
Example The special leave petition was filed through an advocate-on-record and argued by senior counsel.
Hindi अभिलेख अधिवक्ता
Law Supreme Court Rules, 2013, Order IV
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Aequitas sequitur legem
LatinLiterally: “Equity follows the law”
Equity supplements the law but does not override clear legal rules.
Example The court could not use equity to defeat the clear limitation period — aequitas sequitur legem.
Hindi साम्या विधि का अनुसरण करती है
Plain-English explanations written for this glossary. Hindi equivalents follow the Legislative Department’s Legal Glossary where it lists the term, and otherwise the Hindi text of the statute or common legal usage. Exam picks are our editorial selection. Not legal advice.
For general information only, not legal advice. Templates are generic starting points — have a qualified lawyer review anything you rely on.
About the Legal Glossary & Latin Maxims (India)
A searchable glossary of the words lawyers, judges and law students use every day in India — 550+ legal terms from civil and criminal procedure, evidence, contracts, property, family law, torts, company law and the Constitution, and 250+ Latin maxims and phrases from audi alteram partem to volenti non fit injuria.
Each entry gives the meaning in plain English, an example of how it is used, the Hindi equivalent, and the section of law behind it — with the new criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Sakshya Adhiniyam) cited alongside the old IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act sections they replaced. Filter by area of law, by Latin or English, by first letter, or by our picks for CLAT and judiciary exam preparation, then copy or download the list. Everything runs in your browser.
How to use it
- Type a word — “res judicata”, “bail”, “consideration”, a Hindi word such as “जमानत”, or words from a meaning such as “hear the other side”.
- Narrow the list with the filters: legal terms or Latin maxims, an area of law (civil, criminal, property, contracts, procedure and more), our CLAT or judiciary picks, or a letter of the alphabet.
- Read each entry: the meaning, an example sentence, the Hindi equivalent and the statutory reference; follow “See also” to related terms.
- Copy one entry, or copy or download the whole filtered list as text or CSV for revision notes — or press Random for a maxim to learn.
Examples
audi alteram partem
Hear the other side — a rule of natural justice that no one should be condemned unheard (Constitution, arts. 14 and 21); Hindi: दूसरे पक्ष को भी सुनो.
cheating
Cheating — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, s. 318 (formerly IPC ss. 415 and 420); Hindi: छल.
जमानत
Bail — release from custody on conditions on a bond or bail bond (BNSS s. 2(1)(b)).
Latin · Evidence · CLAT picks
The maxims of evidence our CLAT list includes — onus probandi, res gestae, res ipsa loquitur and more — ready to download as CSV.
Common uses
- Revising legal maxims and terms for CLAT, AILET, judiciary and university examinations.
- Understanding a word in a judgment, legal notice, FIR or agreement before acting on it.
- Finding the Hindi legal term for drafting or translating a petition, notice or affidavit.
- Finding which section defines a term — and its old IPC, CrPC or Evidence Act number.
- Building a CSV word list for flashcards or teaching.
What each entry contains
- Meaning — written for this glossary in plain English, not copied from any dictionary.
- Example — a sentence showing the term as it is used in Indian practice.
- Hindi equivalent — where the Legislative Department’s Legal Glossary (English–Hindi) lists the term, its rendering (the most common legal one where it gives several). For terms it does not list — newer ones such as Zero FIR or mob lynching, and most Latin maxims, whose Hindi gives the meaning — the Hindi text of the statute or ordinary legal usage.
- Statutory reference — the Act and section, article or order and rule that defines or applies the term. Under the new criminal laws the former IPC, CrPC or Evidence Act section follows in brackets.
- Area and exam picks — the areas of law the term belongs to, and whether it is in our CLAT or judiciary list.
Our CLAT and judiciary picks
The CLAT list (about 180 entries) marks the Latin maxims and basic terms of contracts, torts, crimes and the Constitution that commonly come up in legal reasoning passages. The judiciary list marks the core terms of the bare Acts that judicial service examinations test — the Civil Procedure Code, the BNSS, the BNS, the BSA, the Contract and Transfer of Property Acts, family law and the writs — leaving out company, tax, intellectual property and court-administration terms. Both are our editorial selection to help you revise, not an official syllabus or a prediction of questions.
The new criminal laws
Offences, criminal procedure and evidence are cited under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA), which replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act. The old section is given in brackets — “BNS s. 318 (formerly IPC ss. 415 and 420)” — because judgments and older books use it. Cases begun under the old laws continue under them, so both numbers matter. To convert a whole list of sections, use the IPC to BNS, CrPC to BNSS and Evidence Act to BSA converters.
Sources
- Legal Glossary (English–Hindi), Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice — to cross-check the Hindi equivalents.
- The text of the Acts cited, from India Code — for every statutory reference, including the General Clauses Act, 1897, s. 3 and the Indian Contract Act, 1872, s. 2 definitions.
- The official correspondence tables between the BNS, BNSS and BSA and the laws they replaced, as used in this site’s converters.
Limitations
- A reference aid, not legal advice: the meanings are simplified and the statute, and the court’s reading of it, govern.
- It covers central laws; State laws (rent, stamp duty, land revenue, court fees) may define the same words differently.
- Hindi renderings can vary between statutes and States; for formal translation check the Hindi text of the particular Act.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a legal maxim and a legal term?
A maxim is a short principle of law, usually in Latin, such as audi alteram partem (hear the other side) or nemo dat quod non habet (no one gives what he does not have). A legal term is a word with a defined legal meaning, such as consideration, decree or cognizable offence. The glossary has both; filter by “Latin maxims and phrases” to see only the maxims.
What does res judicata mean?
A matter already decided. Under section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, once a competent court has finally decided an issue between the same parties, it cannot be tried again in a later suit between them — the idea also found in interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium (litigation must end).
Are the Hindi words official?
Where the Legislative Department’s Legal Glossary lists a term, the Hindi shown follows it — the Department publishes that glossary to standardise Hindi legal terminology. For terms it does not list, and for Latin maxims, the Hindi follows the Hindi text of the statute or common legal usage, or gives the maxim’s meaning. This page is not an official publication.
Why do some entries show two section numbers?
Because the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. The first number is the new law; the one in brackets is the old section, still used for cases begun under the old laws and in older judgments.
Which Latin maxims are most important for CLAT?
Filter by “CLAT picks” and “Latin maxims and phrases”. Common ones include actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea, audi alteram partem, caveat emptor, damnum sine injuria, injuria sine damno, nemo judex in causa sua, res ipsa loquitur, ubi jus ibi remedium and volenti non fit injuria.
Can I download the glossary?
Yes. Filter it as you like and download the list as a CSV file (it opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with the Hindi intact) or copy it as text.