Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Repeal and Savings. STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS Act 13 of 2023:- Article 345 of Constitution of India provides for States to adopt anyone of the Languages as official language for official or any other purpose. Accordingly in the state of Karnataka Kannada Language was adopted as the official language. With the object of developing the regional or official language namely Kannada, the State of Karnataka has enacted The Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963 and Karnataka Local Authorities (Official Language) Act, 1981. In order to ensure greater and more effective implementation of Kannada Language at all levels, Kannada Development Authorities Act, 1994 came to be enacted and a statutory body was established called as Kannada Development Authority. Later another Act by name „Kannada Language Learning Act, 2015‟ was enacted for ensuring learning of Kannada as one of the language in all schools in the state of Karnataka. Despite aforesaid enactments, notifications and orders, there is no much progress in proper implementation of the official Language in the State. The Kannada Language has been introduced as one of the Language subject in Schools but there is no proper provision for learning of Kannada 3 Language in the Higher or Technical or Professional Education. Due to lack of co-ordination between various departments, there is a failure in implementation and usage of Kannada language in Offices, Industries, Shops and Establishment etc. The aforesaid Acts do not provide comprehensive mechanism to implement Kannada as an Official Language. Even the Kannada Development Authority though a statutory body has no proper authority and machinery to ensure implementation of the Kannada as the Official Language at all level. Considering the scenario, to ensure the extensive use and propagation of Kannada Language and to co-ordinate the activities relating to the implementation of Kannada as Official Language new law is essential. In order to provide reservations for Kannadigas in private industry and establishment getting the benefit of Land, Concession of Tax or grant-in-aid etc., and also other industries and establishments in the state and to supervise the proper implementation of the Act, it is necessary to provide a machinery with investigating powers. The Karnataka Law Commission in its fifty- seventh report has proposed to enact a legislation in this regard. Keeping in view these objects, it is necessary to enact a new comprehensive law by repealing the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963 (Karnataka Act 26 of 1963) and the Karnataka local Authorities (Official Language) Act, 1981 (Karnataka Act 30 of 1981). The salient features of proposed legislation are as follows: (i) Introduction of Kannada as one of the language in Higher or Technical or Professional Education. (ii) Reservation in Higher, Technical and Professional Education to persons who have studied in Kannada medium. 4 (iii) Introduction of Kannada as essential Language for seeking employment in the State Government, Local Authorities, Statutory and non-statutory bodies, Co-operative Societies and other societies in the State. (iv) Use of Kannada Language in Sub-ordinate Courts , Tribunals, Banks and other Financial Institutions. (v) General Measures to be taken for Extensive use and Propagation of Kannada Language (vi) Measures to be taken for use of Kannada Language in information and technology and in software development. (vii) Incentives for development of Kannada Language. (viii) Entitlement for concessions, Tax rebates and deferment of taxes for industries providing reservation to Kannadigas as per Industrial Policy notified in the State. (ix) Establishment of Employment Portal. (x) Establishment of mechanism (Committees or enforcement officers) for implementation and supervision. (xi) Penalty for violation in implementation of provisions of the Act by Government Officers or Individuals. Hence, the Bill [L.A. Bill No. 26 of 2022, File No. SAMVYASHAE 28 SHASANA 2022] [Article 345 of the Constitution of India.] [Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No.107 in part-IVA dated:10.03.2023] 5 KARNATAKA ACT NO. 13 OF 2023 (First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 10th day of March 2023) THE KANNADA LANGUAGE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2022 (Received the assent of the Governor on the 10th day of March 2023) An Act to provide for Comprehensive Development of Kannada Language and to provide better opportunities in Education and Employment of Kannadigas. Whereas it is expedient to provide for comprehensive development of Kannada language to provide better opportunities and also welfare measures in all walks of life of kannadigas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; Be it enacted by the Karnataka Legislature in the Seventy Third Year of the Republic of India as follows:-