The Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 2021

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In pursuance of clause (3) of article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation in English of the Maharashtra Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Maharashtra Act No. XIV of 2021), is hereby published under the authority of the Governor.

By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,

SATISH WAGHOLE, I/C. Secretary (Legislation) to Government, Law and Judiciary Department.

MAHARASHTRA ACT No. XIV OF 2021. (First published, after having received the assent of the Governor in the “Maharashtra Government Gazette”, on the 16th July 2021).

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

Mah. V of 1965.

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 :-

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

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 ; (f) “State Government” means the Government of Maharashtra ; (g) “State Marathi Language Committee” means the State Marathi Language Committee constituted under section 5C.”.

After section 5 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely :— “5A. 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. (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 non-use 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. (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 :— (i) Minister, Marathi Language - Chairperson; (ii) State Minister, Marathi Language - Vice-Chairperson; (iii) Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra - Vice-Chairperson; (iv) Additional Chief Secretary (Services), General Administration Department - Member; (v) Secretary, Marathi Language Department - Member; (vi) Secretary, School Education Department - Member; (vii) Secretary, Urban Development Department - Member; (viii) Secretary, Revenue Department - Member; (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. (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; (vi) Two representatives amongst the persons residing in the district from the field of the Marathi language, arts, performing arts, literature, culture or publications to be nominated by the District Collector - Member; (vii) Two representatives of the non-Government institutions, organizations, movements or forums working in the district in the field of the Marathi language, arts, performing arts, literature, culture, publications or libraries to be nominated by the District Collector - Member; (viii) Marathi Language Officer designated in the office of the District Collector - Member-Secretary. (3) The non-official members referred to in clauses (vi) and (vii) above shall hold the office for such period as the District Collector may, by an order, specify. (4) The District Marathi Language Committee shall meet at least once within three months. 5E. (1) The District Marathi Language Committee shall exercise the following powers and discharge the following functions, namely :— (a) give directions to all offices of the State Government in the District for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder; (b) enquire into and redress the grievances or complaints pertaining to non-use of Marathi for official purposes and implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder; (c) call and receive the necessary information, records and reports pertaining to complaints or grievances under this Act from all offices of the State Government in the District; (d) enquire into and resolve the complaints or grievances regarding implementation of this Act and dispose them in an expeditious manner; (e) direct the concerned office of the State Government to comply with the provisions of this Act, if found violating any of the provisions of this Act; (f) organize various programs, projects, activities, workshops, exhibitions and seminars as may be directed by the State Government, time to time, with regard to the implementation of the provisions of this Act; (g) submit an annual report to the State Marathi Language Committee about action taken by it in discharge of its functions under this Act alongwith its recommendations with regard to the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act; (h) exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed. (2) The offices of the State Government shall comply with the directions of the District Marathi Language Committee within a period of fifteen days from the receipt thereof and forward a compliance report to the District Marathi Language Committee.”

1. (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. Designation of Marathi Language Officer.
2. (2) The Marathi Language Officer shall discharge the following functions, namely :—
   • (a) receive the grievances or complaints pertaining to non- use 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. (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. (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.
4. (2) The State Marathi Language Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :—
   • (i) Minister, Marathi Language Chairperson;
   • (ii) State Minister, Marathi Language Vice-Chairperson;
   • (iii) Chief Secretary, Government Vice-Chairperson; of Maharashtra
   • (iv) Additional Chief Secretary Member; (Services), General Administration Department
   • (v) Secretary, Marathi Language Member; Department Constitution of State Marathi Language Committee. ¦ÉÉMÉ +É`ö---33----2
   • (vi) Secretary, School Education Member; Department
   • (vii) Secretary, Urban Development Member; Department
   • (viii) Secretary, Revenue Department Member;
   • (ix) Deputy Secretary, Marathi Member-Secretary. Language Department
5. (3) The State Marathi Language Committee may invite experts from various fields, as it may deems fit, from time to time, for the meeting.
6. (4) The State Marathi Language Committee shall meet at least once in a year.
7. (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. Constitution of District Marathi Language

1. (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. (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 Member; (Zilla Parishad)
   • (v) District Education Officer Member;
   • (vi) Two representatives amongst the Member; persons residing in the district from the field of the Marathi language, arts, performing arts, literature, culture or publications to be nominated by the District Collector
   • (vii) Two representatives of the Member; non-Government institutions, organizations, movements or forums working in the district in the field of the Marathi language, arts, performing arts, literature, culture, publications or libraries to be nominated by the District Collector
   • (viii) Marathi Language Officer Member-Secretary. designated in the office of the District Collector
3. (3) The non-official members referred to in clauses (vi) and (vii) above shall hold the office for such period as the District Collector may, by an order, specify.
4. (4) The District Marathi Language Committee shall meet at least once within three months. 5E. (1) The District Marathi Language Committee shall exercise the following powers and discharge the following functions, namely :—
   • (a) give directions to all offices of the State Government in the District for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder;
   • (b) enquire into and redress the grievances or complaints pertaining to non-use of Marathi for official purposes and implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder;
   • (c) call and receive the necessary information, records and reports pertaining to complaints or grievances under this Act from all offices of the State Government in the District;
   • (d) enquire into and resolve the complaints or grievances regarding implementation of this Act and dispose them in an expeditious manner;
   • (e) direct the concerned office of the State Government to comply with the provisions of this Act, if found violating any of the provisions of this Act;
   • (f) organize various programs, projects, activities, workshops, exhibitions and seminars as may be directed by the State Government, time to time, with regard to the implementation of the provisions of this Act;
   • (g) submit an annual report to the State Marathi Language Committee about action taken by it in discharge of its functions under this Act alongwith its recommendations with regard to the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act;
   • (h) exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed. Powers and functions of District Marathi Language Committee.
5. (2) The offices of the State Government shall comply with the directions of the District Marathi Language Committee within a period of fifteen days from the receipt thereof and forward a compliance report to the District Marathi Language Committee.

Each office of the State Government shall proactively publish on its website or any other electronic mode or any other mode of communication which are easily accessible to the public that Marathi is being used in all official purposes, other than excepted purposes under this Act and rules made thereunder.

The administrative Head or Head of the Department or Head of the office or Controlling Officer of the office of the State Government shall be responsible for,— (a) effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder; (b) compliance of all directions and instructions issued by the District Marathi Language Committee, the State Marathi Language Committee and the State Government, from time to time; (c) providing all necessary facilities and services for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.

The State Government may issue such directions or instructions to all offices of the State Government as may be necessary for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.

The Disciplinary Authority shall on receipt of complaint or grievance regarding non-implementation of the provisions of this Act, initiate disciplinary action against the concerned Government servant under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979 or any other service rules or regulations as applicable to him, if found necessary. The Disciplinary Authority shall submit a report regarding such disciplinary action taken by it to the State Marathi Language Committee and District Marathi Language Committee.