Question : IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT

(a) whether any guidelines have been laid down for implementation of the Official Language Act;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding violation of the provisions of the Official Language Act;

(d) if so, the number of such cases reported during the last one year and the current year;

(e) the action taken against the erring officials;

(f) the funds granted by the Government for promotion of Hindi language during each of the last three years; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government to develop and monitor the implementation of the said Act?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) & (b): The Official Language (use for official purposes of the Union) Rules, 1976 have been framed under the section 8 of the Official Languages Act. In pursuance of the Official Language Resolution, 1968 the Deptt. of Official Language issues an Annual Programme every year to speed-up propagation and also to accelerate its progressive use for different official purposes. In pursuance of this, Annual Evaluation Report is prepared on the basis of the report received from the offices of the Central Government incorporating therein the shortcomings found in implementation of the Official Language Policy in the Ministries/Deptts. and other offices of the Central Government and suggestions and measures for their removal.

The Committee of Parliament on Official Language was constituted in 1976 under the section 4 of Official Language Act, 1963.The Committee after reviewing the different aspects of implementation of Official Language Policy in Central Government offices in detail submits its report to the Hon’ble President. The recommendations made in the report of the committee are reviewed and submitted to the President of India for orders.

Besides, administrative orders are issued from time to time for ensuring the implementation of the Official Languages Act and the Rules.

(c) & (d): In 2008-09 and 2009-10 till date 60 complaints of violations of the Official Language Act & Official Languages Rules in the offices of the Central Government have been received.

(e): The Official Language Policy of the Union Government is based on motivation, encouragement and goodwill. There is no provisions for any kind of punishment in the Official Languages Act and the Rules for not using Hindi Language in the official work. The responsibility of ensuring the use of Official Language Hindi in the offices of the Central Government has been entrusted to the administrative head of every office. The shortcoming noticed from time to time through the Quarterly Progress Report received from the Ministries and Departments are brought to the notice of the Ministries/Departments concerned with the request to remove such shortcomings.

(f): The information is furnished in the statement annexed.

(g): Following Committees have been constituted for monitoring the implementation of the Official Languages Act/Policy:-

(i): The Committee of the Parliament on Official Language
(ii): Kendriya Hindi Samiti under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
(iii): Hindi Salahakar Samiti in every Ministry/Department under the Chairmanship of the Minister concerned.
(iv) Central Official Language Implementation Committee under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Deptt. of Official Language.
(v) Departmental Official Language Implementation Committee in every Ministry/Deptt. Under the Chairmanship of the Joint Secretary concerned.
(vi) Town Official Language Implementation Committees in various major towns of the country.

Besides, the Deptt. Of Official Language monitors the implementation of the Official Languages Act, 1963, the Official Language Rules, 1976 and other relevant directives through the Quarterly Progress Reports received from the Ministries/Departments.