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.
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RNI  No. MAHENG/2009/35528
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(1)
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.
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 :-
1. This Act may be called the Maharashtra Official Languages
(Amendment) Act, 2021.
Mah. V
of 1965.
Short title.
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2. 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.”.
3. Section 4 of the principal Act shall be renumbered as sub-section (1)
thereof; and after sub-section (1), as so renumbered, the following sub-section
shall be added, namely :—
“(2) All official purposes under sub-section (1) includes the following
namely :—
(a) all internal affairs or business of all offices of the State
Government;
(b) all communication  and correspondence to be made with
the public in the State by all offices of the State Government;
(c) all noting, drafting, all remarks, comments and opinions
thereon, manuals, any administrative proceedings, bye-laws, all
types of notices, any administrative work and business, schemes,
programs, policies, decisions, resolutions, administrative and other
reports, press releases, invitation cards, letter-heads or any other
orders or documents pertaining to public interface and public
interest to be issued by any office of the State Government;
(d) all administrative and other reports and official papers to
be laid before the both Houses of the State Legislature;
(e) any license, permit, certificate,  tender or advertisement to
be given or issued by or on behalf of the State Government or any
Department or office thereof;
(f) all standard forms, proformas or registers to be used or any
other documents pertaining to public interface and public interest
in offices of the State Government;
(g) all sign boards, name plates, notice boards and any other
display matters pertaining to public interface and public interest
in offices of the State Government;
(h) all stamps or seals to be used in offices of the State
Government;
Amendment
of section 2 of
Mah. V of
1965.
Mah. V
of
1965.
Amendment
of section 4 of
Mah. V of
1965.
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(i) any other documents or services to be provided through
internet and any communication pertaining to the public interface
and public interest to be made through the website, apps, portals,
and any other  electronic mode of communication by any office of
the State Government; and
(j) any other such official purposes as may be prescribed.”.
4. 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 Vice-Chairperson;
of Maharashtra
(iv) Additional Chief Secretary Member;
(Services), General Administration
Department
(v) Secretary, Marathi Language Member;
Department
Insertion of
new sections
5A, 5B, 5C,
5D, 5E, 5F,
5G, 5H and
5I  in  Mah. V
of 1965.
Provisions in
policy for
effective
implementa-
tion of this
Act.
Designation of
Marathi
Language
Officer.
Constitution
of State
Marathi
Language
Committee.
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(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
(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 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
Constitution
of District
Marathi
Language
Committee.
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(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) 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.
Powers and
functions of
District
Marathi
Language
Committee.
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5F. 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.
5G. 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.
5H. 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.
5I. 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.”.
Proactive
disclosure
about use of
Marathi.
Responsibility
of
implementa-
tion and
compliance.
Power of
Government
to give
directions.
Punishment.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE,
PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE
OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 EDITOR :
DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.

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