The Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005 (Act No. 10 of 2005)

No. 
LL(B). 18/2002/63:- The Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005 (Act No. 10 of 2005)
is hereby published for general information.
MEGHALAYA ACT NO. 10 OF 2005
As passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
Received the assent of the Governor on the 1st May, 2005
(Published in the Gazette of Meghalaya Extra-Ordinary, issued dated 4th May, 2005)
THE MEGHALAYA STATE LANGUAGE ACT, 2005
An
Act
To provide for the language (s) to be used for official purposes for the State of
Meghalaya.
Whereas, Art, 345 of the Constitution of India provides that the Legislature of a State
may, by law, adopt anyone or more of the language in use in the State as the Language to be
used for official purposes of the State and for matters connected therewith.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya in the Fifty-sixth Year of
the Republic of India as follows:-
Short title and 1 (1) This Act may be called the Meghalaya State Language
Commencement Act, 2005
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Meghalaya.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette
appoints and different dates may be appointed for
different Official purposes and for different parts of the
State of Meghalaya;
Provided that the date or dates appointed by the
State Government in respect of any parts of the State of
Meghalaya shall not be later than five years from the date
of the assent to this Act.
Definitions 2 In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant to the context:-
(a) “Act” means the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2004;
   
(b)“Association official language” means a language prescribed 
under section 4 of the Act, or such language  (s) as may be 
prescribed under provision of section 5 of this Act; 
 
(c)“Autonomous District” means an area deemed as such under 
paragraph 1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India; 
 
(d)“District Council” means a District Council constituted under 
para2 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India; 
 
(e)“Government” means the Government of the State of 
Meghalaya; 
 
(f)“Notification” means a notification published by Government 
in the Official Gazette; 
 
(g)“Official Gazette” means the Meghalaya Gazette; 
and(h)“Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this 
Act; 
 
 
Official Language of 
the State of Meghalaya 
 
3 
 
Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 343 and 347 of 
the Constitution of India and the provisions of the Meghalaya 
State Legislature (continuance of the English Language) Act, 
1980 and subject to as hereinafter provided the English 
language shall continue to be the official  language of the State 
of Meghalaya. 
 
 
Associate Official 
Khasi Language (s) of 
the State 
 
4 
 
Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 3, the Khasi 
language may be used as the associate official language for all 
purposes in the District, Sub -Divisions and Block level offices 
of the State Government located in the Districts of East Khasi 
Hills, West Khasi Hills , 
1 (*) South West Khasi Hills, East 
Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia  Hills and Ri -Bhoi. The Garo 
Language may be used as associate official language for all 
purposes in the District, Sub-Divisions and Block Level Offices 
of East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills , South Garo Hills , 
2
 
 (*) 
North Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills; 
 
       Provided that only the English language shall continue to be 
used in all Civil and Criminal Courts located in the State; 
 
      Provided, further, that all Inter -
District Official 
communications shall continue to be in the English language. 
 
                                                           
1 Substituted by Act No.8 of 2016, Section 2 (i) Earlier the words read as “Jaintia Hills” 
2 Inserted by Act No. 8 of 2016, Section 2 (ii) 
 
Direction of 
Government not to 
affect other linguistic 
groups culture , 
appointment to posts. 
5 Subject to the provisions of sections of this Act , the State 
Government may, by notification issued from time to time, 
direct the use of the language, as may be specified in the 
notification, in such part of the State of Meghalaya as may be 
specified therein 
 
Provided that- 
 
(a) The rights of the various linguistic groups in respect of  
medium instruction in educational institutions as laid  down 
in the Constitution of India shall not be affected; 
 
(b) The State shall not, in granting aid to education and 
cultural institutions, discriminate against any such  
institutions on ground of language; 
 
(c) The right of appointment to the post(s) and services and  to 
contract(s) shall be maintained without discrimination  on 
the ground of languages; and 
 
(d) In regard to noting in the offices located in the District, if  
any member of the staff is unable to record in any of the  
associate official language of such District, the use of  
English shall be permitted so long as the use thereof is  
permissible for the official purposes of the Union under  
any law made by the Parliament in this behalf. 
 
Power to make Rules. 6 The State Government may, by notification in the Official  
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                       S. DYKES, 
                                                                         Joint Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya 
                                                                       Law (B) Department 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE UNDERLINED TEXT INDICATES THE INSERTION/SUBSTITUTION OF THE SUBSEQUENT 
AMENDMENTS TO THE MEGHALAYA STATE LANGUAGE ACT, 2005 (ACT NO. 10 OF 2005) , 
AMENDED AND UPDATED UPTO THE YEAR – ACT NO.8 OF 2016. 

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