Karnataka: Ordinance soon on 60 percent of display boards to be in Kannada, says CM

Bengaluru: Chairing a high-level meeting of officials concerned on usage of Kannada in display boards in shops, commercial establishments among others, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said to bring an amendment through an ordinance to the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2023 Section 17 sub section (6) to make usage of 60 percent Kannada in upper part of the display boards and 40 percent of any languages mandatory. The ordinance will come into effect before February 28, 2024.

He told a press conference in Bengaluru that his government when in power in Karnataka had issued a circular on March 24, 2018 stating that 60 percent Kannada usage in the upper part of the display boards in shops, commercial establishments among others and 40 percent of any other language in the lower part of the display boards.

But, he said, the Bharatiya Janata Party government on March 10, 2023 had introduced Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill which states that usage of Kannada in signboards will be 50 percent and 50 percent for any other language.

Since, a circular has already been issued on usage of 60 percent Kannada in the upper portion of display boards, the Chief Minister said an ordinance will be issued soon to make 60 percent Kannada usage in displays be it shops, commercial establishments, shopping malls, hotels among others.

The Bill introduced by the department of Kannada and Culture under the BJP government was passed in both houses of the Assembly and the Governor had also given his consent. However, no notification has been issued so far while rules are ready under the Act, said the Chief Minister.