By The Sampadak Express
In a firm move to uphold the state’s language policy, the Karnataka government has directed all officials to use Kannada extensively in administrative work across departments, districts, boards, corporations, and universities. The directive, issued via a circular by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on Tuesday, warns of disciplinary action against those who fail to comply.
The circular comes after repeated reports from the Kannada Development Authority highlighting continued disregard for earlier orders promoting the use of Kannada in government functioning.“
It is reiterated that usage of Kannada in administration is mandatory, and disciplinary action will be initiated against violators,” the circular states.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also expressed concern over the lack of Kannada notings in official files. He has directed that any file not written in Kannada should be returned and a written explanation sought from the concerned officer.
The circular stresses that all government employees are duty-bound to implement the Kannada language policy fully and at every administrative level. This includes corporations, boards, local bodies, universities, and government-aided institutions.
Highlighting specific violations, the government noted that in recent Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meetings, some Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs used English for agendas and presentations a breach of the state’s language policy.
Officials were reminded that under the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963, Kannada is the official administrative language of the state. All applications received in Kannada must be responded to in Kannada, and government office nameplates must also be in Kannada.
Additionally, the circular mandates that proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, official correspondence, government orders (including appointments, transfers, and leave), and all internal documentation should be in Kannada. Forms and records must also be prepared in Kannada.
Exceptions are allowed only for communication with the Central Government, courts, and foreign entities.
The circular concludes by stressing that meeting notices, agendas, summaries, and records should all be in Kannada to ensure effective implementation of the state’s language policy.
