Maharashtra Mandates Use Of Marathi In All Govt Offices, Imposes Penalties For Non-Compliance

The Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution (GR) on Monday, mandating the use of Marathi in all government and semi-government offices across the state, according to an ANI report.

Under the directive, employees are required to communicate in Marathi with all visitors, except those from foreign countries or non-Marathi-speaking states.

The resolution applies to government offices, semi-government bodies, corporations under the Maharashtra government, and other related offices.

Any violation of this rule will be considered an act of official indiscipline. Citizens may file formal complaints against employees who fail to comply, submitting them to the in-charge of the respective office or department.

If the complainant is dissatisfied with the action taken, they can escalate the matter to the Marathi Language Committee of the Maharashtra Legislature for further review, as stated in the resolution.

The move aims to strengthen the use of Marathi in official communication and ensure improved accessibility for Marathi-speaking citizens in government offices.

The Marathi Language Policy, approved last year, recommended the use of Marathi in all public affairs to further the preservation, promotion, and development of the language.

The GR also specifies that personal computer keyboards in all offices should include Marathi Devanagari alphabets in addition to Roman characters.