It has been presented to the government by a committee headed by SR Bannoormath.
It has been presented to the government by a committee headed by SR Bannoormath.
In order to give legal framework and teeth to various rules and regulations on giving priority to Kannada, the committee headed by SR Bannoormath has submitted the draft Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill, 2022 to the government. In this bill there is a provision of fine for violation of rules, in which there is a provision of fine for various offences.
Enforcement Directorate
Among other things, the committee has recommended the formation of a Directorate of Language Enforcement, to implement the Kannada language in all official work. The Directorate has to form committees at the state, district and taluk levels. The state committee will include the KDA chairman and chief secretary, among others.
The committee has prepared the draft after four months of consultation with various government departments and statutory bodies. The draft was submitted to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy. According to KDA sources, it is expected to be tabled in the next assembly session.
Why and what does the bill say
The Bill comes in the context of complaints that though successive governments have issued several orders giving priority to Kannada in administration and other areas, none have been able to fully implement them as they are one are not supported by law.
The committee has recommended, among other things, Kannada as the sole official language for the presentation of all bills in the legislature, for ordinances passed by the Governor for the orders of the government and other government organisations, industries and cooperatives.
It also proposes to make Kannada mandatory in program brochures and banners of government, government-funded organizations. Kannada will also have to be made the main language in all name boards.
The Bill lays emphasis on teaching functional Kannada language to students with higher, technical and vocational education who have not learned Kannada as a language till SSLC.
It also states that Kannada people should be given first priority in industrial establishments and workshops should be organized to teach Kannada to non-Kannada speakers in industrial establishments with more than 100 employees.
a punishment
According to the draft bill, any negligence by any officer in carrying out the orders of the government regarding the development of Kannada language will be a punishable offence.
Similarly, any shopkeeper disobeying in giving priority to Kannada in the name plates will be punishable. There will be a fine of ₹5,000 for the first offense and ₹10,000 for the second offence. Later, the offender is liable to a fine of ₹20,000 apart from cancellation of the license. Disregard by a private company can prevent privileges such as tax exemptions.
“There are many rules and regulations to develop the Kannada language. But these are only on paper. This bill will give legal power to all of them. I am hopeful that the government will introduce the bill in the coming assembly session,” said TS Nagabharan, chairman of the Kannada Development Authority Hindu.