State Act

Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 2021

4. After section 5 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely :— Provisions in policy for effective implementation of this Act. “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. Designation of Marathi Language Officer. 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. Constitution of State Marathi Language Committee. 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 of Maharashtra Vice-Chairperson; (iv) Additional Chief Secretary (Services), General Administration Department Member; (v) Secretary, Marathi Language Department Member; (vi) Secretary, School Education Department Member; (vii) Secretary, Urban Development Department Member; (viii) Secretary, Revenue Department Member; (ix) Deputy Secretary, Marathi Language Department Member-Secretary. (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. Constitution of District Marathi Language Committee. 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 (Zilla Parishad) Member; (v) District Education Officer Member; (vi) Two representatives amongst the 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 Member; (vii) Two representatives of the 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 Member; (viii) Marathi Language Officer designated in the office of the District Collector Member-Secretary. (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. Powers and functions of District Marathi Language Committee. 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. Proactive disclosure about use of Marathi. 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. Responsibility of implementation and compliance. 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. Power of Government to give directions. 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. Punishment. 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.”.