The Andhra Pradesh [Official Languages] Act, 1966

Short title and extent –(1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh [Official Languages] Act, 1966.

1. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

Official Languages of the State –The Telugu Language shall be the Official Language in the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh: Provided that the Urdu Language shall be the Second Official Language in the Districts of Adilabad, Ananthapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Guntur, Hyderabad, Kurnool, Karimnagar, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Nellore, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy and Warangal.

Governments power to notify the Official purposes for which Telugu and Urdu to be used –(1) The State Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, direct that the Telugu and Urdu Languages shall be used for such official purposes of the State and from such date as may be specified in the notification.

1. (2) The Languages to be used – (i)
   • (a) in all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved, in either House of the Legislature of the State and in all Acts passed by the Legislature of the State;
   • (b) in all Ordinance promulgated by the Governor of the State under Article 213 of the Constitution and in all the Regulations made by him under paragraph 5 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution;
     • (ii) in all orders, rules, regulations and bye-laws issued by the State Government or other authority or officer of the State Government under the Constitution or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of the State;
     • (iii) in all correspondence between the State Government and any Corporation or Company owned or controlled by the State Government or any office thereof and in all orders, proceedings, bye-laws and regulations issued by such Corporation or Company; shall be the Telugu and Urdu Languages on and from such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, specify:

Continuance of English language for certain official purposes of the State and for use in the Legislature Continuance of English language for certain official purposes of the State and for use in the Legislature –Until the State Government otherwise direct by notification under section 3 –

1. (i) the English language shall continue to be used for those official purposes within the State for, which it was being used immediately before the commencement of this Act; and
2. (ii) the English language may continue to be used for the transaction of the business in the Legislature of the State.

Commission on Official Languages -

1. (1) The State Government shall, at the expiration of five years from the commencement of this Act, by order constitute a Commission on Official Languages of the State which shall consist of a Chairman and four other members of whom one shall be proficient in Urdu language to be appointed by the State Government and the order shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.
2. (2) It shall be the duty of the Commission to review the progress made in the use of the Telugu and Urdu Languages for the official purposes of the State and to make recommendations to the State Government as to –
   • (a) the progressive use of the Telugu and Urdu Languages for the official purposes of the State;
   • (b) restrictions on the use of the English language for all or any of the official purposes of the State;
   • (c) any other matter referred to the Commission by the State Government as regards the use of the Telugu and Urdu Languages.
3. (3) The Commission shall submit a report with its recommendations on the matters referred to in sub-section
4. (2) to the State Government, who shall cause the report to be laid before each House of the State Legislature.
5. (4) The State Government may, after consideration of the recommendations in the report so made by the Commission, issue directions in accordance with the whole or any part of that report.

Authorised Telugu translation of Central and State Acts, etc., -

1. (1) A translation in the Telugu and Urdu Languages published under the Authority of the Governor in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette on and after the date specified by notification –
   • (i) in respect of clause
   • (i) of sub-section
2. (2) of section 3, of any Central Act or of any Ordinance promulgated by the President, with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, or of any State Act or of any regulation made by the Governor, or of any other law in force in the State; or
   • (ii) in respect of clause
   • (ii) of sub-section
3. (2) of section 3, of any order, rule, regulation or bye-law issued by the State Government for other authority or officer of the State Government under the Constitution or under any Central Act, or any State Act or any other law in force in the State, or
   • (iii) in respect of clause
   • (iii) of sub-section
4. (2) of section 3 of any order, proceeding, bye-law or regulation issued by any Corporation or Company owned or controlled by the State Government or any office thereof. Shall be deemed to be the authoritative text thereof in the Telugu and Urdu Languages.
5. (2) Where the State Government have issued a notification under clause (i)
   • (a) of sub-section
6. (2) of section 3 specifying a date from which the Telugu and Urdu Languages shall be issued in all Bills introduced in, and amendments thereto to be moved in, and Acts passed by, the State Legislature, the authoritative text in the Telugu and Urdu Languages of all such bills which amend Acts which are in English, to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved, in either House of the State

Special provision relating to the use of Urdu or any other language or languages, in addition to the Telugu language, in certain areas of the State for such official purposes and for such periods as may be specified by notification Special provision relating to the use of Urdu or any other language or languages, in addition to the Telugu language, in certain areas of the State for such official purposes and for such periods as may be specified by notification -The State Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, direct the use of Urdu or any other language or languages in addition to the Telugu language, in the interests of persons speaking such language or languages, in such areas and for such official purposes of the State and for such periods, as may be specified in the notification.

Power to make rules -

1. (1) The State Government may by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, make rules for carrying out all or any of the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) Every notification issued or rule made under this Act shall, immediately after it is issued or made, be laid before each House of the State Legislature if it is in session, and if it is not in session, in the session immediately following for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the notification or rule or in the annulment of the notification or rule, the notification or rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled, as the case may be, so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that notification or rule.

Repeal of Andhra Pradesh Act 16 of 1964 -The Andhra Pradesh State Legislature (Continuance of the English Language) Act, 1964, is hereby repealed.