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The KANNADA LANGUAGE LEARNING ACT, 2015

Karnataka · state statute
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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 22 OF 2015 
 
THE KANNADA LANGUAGE LEARNING ACT, 2015 
 
Arrangement of Sections 
 
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS 
 
Sections: 
1. Short title and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Kannada as a Compulsory Language 
4. Competent Authority 
5. Competent Authority to be public servant 
6. Power of the Government to give direction 
7. Protection of action taken in good faith 
8. Power to make rules 
9. Power to remove difficulties 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS 
 
Amending Act 22 of 2015. - A policy decision has been taken by the Government of 
Karnataka to ensure that, all students studying in standards I to X in all schools in the state to be 
taught Kannada language as one of the compulsory language in all classes in a phased manner from 
the academic year 2015-16 and it is considered necessary to appoint an officer not below the rank of 
Deputy Director of Public Instructions to be the Competent Authority to implement this policy decision. 
Hence, the Bill.  
 
[L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2015, File No. Samvyashae 10 Shasana 2015] 
[entry 25 of List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.] 
 
  
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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 22 OF 2015 
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the Second day of May, 2015)   
 
THE KANNADA LANGUAGE LEARNING ACT, 2015 
(Received the assent of the Governor on the Twenty Ninth day of April, 2015) 
 
 An Act to provide and ensure learning of Kannada as one of the language in all schools in the 
State of Karnataka. 
 Whereas, a policy decision has been taken by the Government of Karnataka to ensure that all 
students studying in standards I to X in all schools in the State shall learn Kannada as one of the 
language in a phased manner from the academic year 2015-16. 
 Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the sixty-sixth year of the Republic of India 
as follows:- 
 
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the Kannada Language 
Learning Act, 2015. 
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, appoint. 
This Act has came into force w.e.f.22.05.2015 by  Notification No.ED 242 PGC 2015, Dated:22.05.2015. 
(See the text of the notification at the end of the Act) 
 
2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 
(a) "Academic year" means the year commencing on the first day of   
 June; 
(b) "Competent authority" means the competent authority appointed  by the Government 
under section 4; 
(c) "Government" means the State Government; 
(d) "Prescribed" means prescribed by the rules; 
 
(e) "School" means,- 
(i) any Primary School, Middle School, High School or Higher  
Secondary School established and maintained by the State Government or Local 
Bodies; or 
(ii) any Primary School, Middle School, High School or Higher  
Secondary School established and administered or maintained by any private 
educational agency including minority school established and administered under 
clause (1) of Article 30 of the Constitution of India, whether receiving aid out of the 
State fund or not; or 
(iii) any Nursery and Primary School, Matriculation School, Anglo- Indian School or 
Oriental School including minority school established and administered under 
clause (1) of Article 30 of the Constitution of India, whether receiving aid out of the 
State fund or not; or 
(iv) such other School as may be notified by the Government in this behalf. 
Explanation. - For the purpose of this clause,- 
(1) A School having any of classes from Nursery to X standard is considered a 
school for the purpose of this Act. 
(2) Words and expressions used in this Act but not defined shall have the same 
meaning assigned to it in the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 (Karnataka Act 1 of 1995). 
 
3. Kannada as a Compulsory Language. - (1) Kannada language shall be taught as a 
compulsory language in all classes, in all schools in the State, either as a first language or as a 
second language in the phased manner. 
 (2) In those Schools which are not teaching Kannada as a first and second language, as of 
now, shall introduce Kannada as first or  second language in  Standard- I from the academic year 
2015-16 and in the standard I and II in the academic year 2016-17 and in the phased manner shall be 
extended upto Xth  standard in a like manner. 
 (3) Every School shall follow Text Books Prescribed by  the State Government for teaching 
Kannada as First language or Second language compulsorily. 
 3 
 (4) A student who has not opted his mother tongue (other than Kannada) as First or Second 
Language may study his mother tongue as Third Language. 
 
 4. Competent Authority.- (1) The Government may, by notification, appoint any officer of the 
Education Department not below the rank of Deputy Director of Public Instructions to be the 
Competent Authority for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act and the rules made 
there under and different competent authorities may be appointed for different areas. 
 (2) The Competent Authority shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may 
be prescribed. 
 
 5. Competent Authority to be public servant. - The competent authority appointed under 
section 4 shall be deemed to be public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal 
Code (Central Act XLV of 1860). 
 
 6. Power of the Government to give direction.- (1) The Government may, in public interest, 
by order, direct the competent authority to make an enquiry or to take appropriate proceedings under 
this Act in any case specified in the Order and the competent authority shall report to the Government 
the result of the enquiry made or the proc eedings taken by him within such period as may be 
prescribed. 
 (2) On receipt of the report from the competent authority under sub- section (1), the 
Government shall give such direction as it deems fit and such direction shall be final and binding. 
 
 7. Protection of action taken in good faith.- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings 
shall lie against the competent authority, Government or its officers for anything which is in good faith 
done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule or order made there under. 
 
 8. Power to make rules.- (1) The Government may, by notification, after previous publication 
make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.  
(2) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made 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 or more successive sessi ons, and if, before the expiry of 
the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses 
agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule shall not be made, 
the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, 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 rule. 
 
 9. Power to remove difficulties. - If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of 
this Act, the Government may, by Order published in the official Gazette, make such provisions, as 
appears to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty. 
 Provided that no suc h order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the 
date of commencement of this Act. 
The above translation of  PÀ£ÀßqÀ ¨sÁµÁ PÀ°PÉ C¢ü¤AiÀĪÀÄ, 2015 (2015gÀ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ C¢s¤AiÀĪÀÄ ¸ÀASÉå: 22) be 
published in the Official Gazette under clause (3) of Article 348 of the Constitution of India.  
 
 
VAJUBHAI VALA 
  GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA 
 
By Order and in the name of the Governor of Karnataka 
 
 
B.B. Pattar 
Special Secretary to Government  
Department of Parliamentary Affairs 
  
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EDUCATION SECRETARIAT  
NOTIFICATION  
 
No :ED 242 PGC 2015, Bengaluru dated 22 -05 -2015  
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Karnataka Language 
Learning Act, 2015 (No. 22 of  Karnataka Act of 2015), the Government of Karnataka hereby appoints 
the 22nd day of May 2015 as the date in which all provisions of the said Act shall come into force.  
 
By Order and in the name of the Governor of Karnataka,  
 
 
(H. S. HONNEGOWDA) 
Under Secretary to Government, 
Education Dept.,(primary). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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