The 1[Karnataka] Official Language Act, 1963

1. (1) This Act may be called the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963.
2. (2) It extend to the whole of the State of Karnataka.

The official language of the State of Karnataka shall be Kannada.

Notwithstanding anything in section 2 and without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 346 and 347 of the Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the State for which it was being used before the commencement of this Act until the State Government, by notification under section 4, otherwise directs in respect of any official purpose specified in such notification.

The State Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that Kannada shall be used in respect of such official purposes and in such areas as may be specified in the notification.

1. (1) Notwithstanding the expiration of the period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution, the English language may, as from the twenty-sixth day of January 1965, continue to be used, in addition to Kannada and Hindi for the transaction of business in the Legislature of the State.
2. (2) Kannada Language may also be used,—
   • (a) in any Bill to be introduced or in amendments thereto to be moved in, or in any Act passed by, the Karnataka State Legislature; or
   • (b) in any Ordinance promulgated by the Governor of the State of Karnataka; or
   • (c) in any order, rule, regulation or bye-law issued by the State Government under the Constitution or under any law made by the Parliament or the Karnataka State Legislature.

With effect from such date as the State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify a translation in the Kannada language published under the authority of the Governor in the official Gazette,—

1. (i) 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 Ordinance or rules made by the Governor; or
2. (ii) of any order, rule, regulation or bye-law issued by the State Government or 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, shall be deemed to be the authoritative text thereof in the Kannada language.

Every notification issued under section 4, shall be laid as soon as may be after it is issued, before each House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions and if, before the expiry 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 both Houses agree that the notification should not be issued, the notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however, that any modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that notification.