Maharashtra Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 2021

[14 OF 2021]

[16 July 2021]

An Act further to amend the Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 1964.

WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 1964, for the purposes hereinafter appearing; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-second Year of the Republic of India, as follows :-

Section - 1. Short title :-

This Act may be called the Maharashtra Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 2021.

Section - 2. Amendment of section 2 of Mah. V of 1965 :-

In section 2 of the Maharashtra Official Languages Act,1964 (hereinafter referred to as "the principal Act"),-

(a)      after clause (b), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :-"(b-1) "District Marathi Language Committee" means a District Marathi Language Committee constituted in each district under section 5D;";

(b)      after clause (c), the following clauses shall be added, namely :-

"(d) "Marathi Language Officer" means an officer designated as the Marathi Language Officer under sub-section (1) of section 5B; (e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules ;"State Government" means the Government of Maharashtra ;

(f)       "State Marathi Language Committee" means the State Marathi Language Committee constituted under section 5C."

Section - 3. Amendment of section 4 of Mah. V of 1965 :-

Section 4 of the principal Act shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof; and after sub-section (1), as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added, namely :-

"(2) All official purposes under sub-section (1) includes the following namely :-

(a)      all internal affairs or business of all offices of the State Government;

(b)      all communication and correspondence to be made with the public in the State by all offices of the State Government;

(c)      all noting, drafting, all remarks, comments and opinions thereon, manuals, any administrative proceedings, bye-laws, all types of notices, any administrative work and business, schemes, programs, policies, decisions, resolutions, administrative and other reports, press releases, invitation cards, letter-heads or any other orders or documents pertaining to public interface and public interest to be issued by any office of the State Government;

(d)      all administrative and other reports and official papers to be laid before the both Houses of the State Legislature;

(e)      any license, permit, certificate, tender or advertisement to be given or issued by or on behalf of the State Government or any Department or office thereof;

(f)       all standard forms, proformas or registers to be used or any other documents pertaining to public interface and public interest in offices of the State Government;

(g)      all sign boards, name plates, notice boards and any other display matters pertaining to public interface and public interest in offices of the State Government;

(h)     all stamps or seals to be used in offices of the State Government;

(i)       any other documents or services to be provided through internet and any communication pertaining to the public interface and public interest to be made through the website, apps, portals, and any other electronic mode of communication by any office of the State Government; and any other such official purposes as may be prescribed.".

Section - 4. Insertion of new sections 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H and 5I in Mah. V of 1965 :-

After section 5 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely :-

"5A. Provisions in policy for effective implementation of this Act. Every office of the State Government, including offices subordinate and under administrative control of each Department of Mantralaya, shall make suitable provisions in its policies pertaining to public interface and public interest for use of Marathi for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

5B. Designation of Marathi Language Officer.

(1)     Every office of the State Government shall designate a suitable officer as Marathi Language Officer to discharge the functions assigned to him under this Act.

(2)     The Marathi Language Officer shall discharge the following functions, namely:-

(a)      receive the grievances or complaints pertaining to nonuse of Marathi in official purposes and implementation of the provisions of this Act in the office and to facilitate for its effective redressal; and

(b)      to take steps to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.

(3)     The Head of the Office and any other officer and employees in the office shall render necessary assistance to the Marathi Language Officer for discharging the functions assigned to him under this Act.

5C. Constitution of State Marathi Language Committee.

(1)     There shall be a State Marathi Language Committee to exercise the powers conferred on and to discharge the functions assigned to it under this Act.

(2)     The State Marathi Language Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

Chairperson;

(i) Minister, Marathi Language

Vice-Chairperson;

(ii) State Minister, Marathi Language

Vice-Chairperson;

(iii) Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra

(iv) Additional Chief Secretary (Services), General Administration Department? Member;

Member;

(v) Secretary, Marathi Language Department

Member;

(vi) Secretary, School Education Department

Member;

(vii) Secretary, Urban Development Department

Member;

(viii) Secretary, Revenue Department

(ix)Deputy Secretary, Marathi Language Department

Member-

Secretary.

(3)     The State Marathi Language Committee may invite experts from various fields, as it may deems fit, from time to time, for the meeting.

(4)     The State Marathi Language Committee shall meet at least once in a year.

(5)     The State Marathi Language Committee shall exercise the following powers and discharge the following functions, namely :-

(i) ensure and review the implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder;

(ii) consider an annual report alongwith recommendations submitted by the District Marathi Language Committee about action taken by it in discharge of its functions under this Act and to give directions to the District Marathi Language committee as it deems fit for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act;

(iii) give directions to all offices of the State Government and the District Marathi Language Committee as it deems fit for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder;

(iv) recommend such incentives, rewards or schemes as may be necessary for? effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.

5D. Constitution of District Marathi Language Committee.

(1)     The District Collector of each district shall constitute a District Marathi Language Committee in the District to exercise the powers conferred on and to discharge the functions assigned to it under this Act.

(2)     The District Marathi Language Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(i) District Collector?? Chairperson;

(ii) Municipal Commissioner? Member;

(iii) Superintendent of Police Member;

(iv) Chief Executive Officer (Zilla Parishad) Member;

(v)District Education Officer Member;

Two representatives amongst the persons residing in the district from the field of the Marathi language, arts, performing arts,

Member;

(vi)        literature, culture or publications to be nominated by the District Collector

Two representatives of the non-Government institutions, organizations, movements or forums working in the district in the (vii) field of the Marathi language, arts, performing arts, literature,

Member;

culture, publications or libraries to be nominated by the District Collector

(vii)       ?Marathi Language Officer designated in the office of the District Collector

Member-Secretary.