Use of Kannada made mandatory in govt work; files not in state language to be returned

Time of India

4 days ago

Bengaluru: In a firm push to uphold Kannada as the language of governance, the state has made it mandatory for all govt departments to extensively use Kannada in official administration.
The directive, issued by chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh, warns of disciplinary action against officials failing to comply.
The circular, released Tuesday, comes in the wake of repeated complaints by the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) over non-compliance with earlier instructions. It reiterates that all official correspondence, file notations, meeting agendas, nameplates, and documentation must be in Kannada.
It excludes communication with the Centre, courts, or other states.
"All departments must respond in Kannada to applications and letters received in Kannada," the circular states. It also mandates that nameplates of govt offices be displayed only in Kannada. Legislative proceedings, official correspondence, notices, and internal communications such as meeting agendas and file notes should also be prepared in the state's official language.
"Even forms, record books, and templates provided in English must be filled out in Kannada wherever applicable," the circular states.
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Chief minister Siddaramaiah has come down strongly on laxity in implementing the language policy. "Any government file that lacks notes or correspondence in Kannada should be returned for proper revision and clarification," he ordered. He reminded officials that it is their responsibility to implement the policy at all levels of governance.
The order applies to all officials and staff in govt departments, corporations, boards, universities, aided institutions, and local bodies.
Welcoming the move, KDA president Purushottam Bilimale said in a letter to Rajneesh: "The warning of disciplinary action has already had a significant and positive impact.
Prakash Raj meets CM
Meanwhile, actor Prakash Raj and farmer representatives met chief minister Siddaramaiah Thursday and demanded that the govt withdraw its notification to acquire their land for an aerospace park at Devanahalli's Channarayapatna village.
Raj later told reporters Siddaramaiah had promised to drop the acquisition plan.
"He had visited the protest site when he was in the opposition and had termed the acquisition an injustice," Raj said. He said farmers would have no livelihoods if their fertile agricultural land was acquired. "Should they be watchmen and cleaners in industries? We are aware of the deception taking place in the name of development," he said.
Organisers of Devanahalli Chalo protest accused industries minister MB Patil of "collaborating" with corporates. They termed him 'corporate contract minister' and said that there were several forces behind him lobbying for the land.