Assembly refers Malayalam language Bill to Subject Committee

The Assembly today referred the Malayalam language (Dissemination and Enrichment) Bill to the Subject Committee.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who piloted the Bill, said that the government would see to it that the provisions of the Bill do not cause any difficulties to linguistic minorities.

The Bill seeks to make Malayalam the only official language of the State (Currently, Malayalam and English are official languages of the State). It will be the first language for teaching in schools. However, there will be for children of Malayalees returning from abroad and linguistic minorities.

Questions papers for all examinations conducted by Public Service Commission and other government institutions should be prepared in Malayalam also. If persons who have not studied Malayalam as subject at secondary, higher secondary and degree levels are selected to government service, they will have to pass a PSC examination of the level of senior higher diploma examination.

Lower courts and quasi judicial authorities should use Malayalam in proceedings and preparation of judgments. All orders, bylaws and rules issued under State and Central laws should be in Malayalam. Their English translations should also be made.

All products manufactured and sold in Kerala should be have their names in Malayalam. Instructions for use of the product should also be in Malayalam. Failure to comply with provisions of the law will attract fines ranging from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 25000.

Sign boards of government, quasi government, public sector and cooperative institutions should be in Malayalam in its upper parts. This would apply to boards on vehicles and boards providing information. Commercial establishments, businesses, trusts, counseling centres, hospitals, laboratories, tourist centres and hotels should have Malayalam on the upper part of their boards.

Malayalam should be used on Web sites government departments, public sector undertakings, cooperatives and autonomous institutions. Government notifications and advertisements should also be in Malayalam. It should be possible to use Malayalam under e-governance programmes.