Malayalam Language Bill, 2025

Context

Recently, in a significant initiative regarding language policy in Kerala, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government introduced the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 in the Legislative Assembly. After review by the Subject Committee, it was passed within just three days. The bill is currently awaiting the Governor's assent.

Objective and Scope of the Bill

• The main objective of the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 is to establish Malayalam as the sole official language of Kerala.
• It mandates the widespread use of Malayalam in governance, education, the judiciary, public communication, business activities, and digital media, while remaining within constitutional limits.
• In fact, both English and Malayalam currently have official language status in the state.

Key Provisions

According to the bill

• Malayalam will be taught as a compulsory first language up to Grade 10 in all government and aided schools in the state.
• Court judgments and court proceedings will be gradually translated into Malayalam.
• All bills and ordinances introduced in the Assembly will be presented in Malayalam.
• Malayalam versions of major central and state laws available in English will also be prepared.

Other Provisions

• The Department of Information Technology will be entrusted with the responsibility of developing open-source software and technical resources to promote the effective use of Malayalam in the IT sector.
• As part of the administrative structure, it is proposed to rename the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Official Language) of the Secretariat as the Malayalam Language Development Department.
• A separate Directorate of Malayalam Language Development will also be established under this department.

Background of the Bill

• This is not the first time the Kerala government has attempted to establish Malayalam as an official language. The Malayalam Language (Propagation and Enrichment) Bill, introduced in 2015, was also introduced with the same objective. However, despite passing the Assembly, the President did not give assent to that bill.
• At that time, the bill was reserved for the President's consideration because some of its provisions were inconsistent with the Official Languages ​​Act, 1963.
• Furthermore, the Central Government had expressed objections to provisions related to the rights of linguistic minorities, the three-language formula under the National Education Policy, and the Right to Education Act, 2009.

Opposition by the Karnataka Government

• The Karnataka government has opposed this bill. It has termed it unconstitutional, stating that it could affect the interests of the Kannada-speaking minority living in Kerala, especially in the border district of Kasaragod.
• The Karnataka government's main objection is to the provision making Malayalam a compulsory first language in all schools in Kerala.
• The petitioners argue that linguistic minority students in Kasaragod and other Kannada-majority areas currently study Kannada as their first language.

Kerala Government's Stand

• The Kerala government has dismissed these concerns, stating that the bill is not intended to infringe the rights of any language or community. The bill includes special provisions to protect the rights of all linguistic minorities, including Tamil, Kannada, Tulu, and Konkani.
• Under these provisions, linguistic minorities will be allowed to communicate in their mother tongue with the state government secretariat, department heads, and local government offices in the respective areas.
• Additionally, students whose mother tongue is not Malayalam will be able to receive education in the language of their choice available in state schools in accordance with the National Education Curriculum. Students from other states or abroad whose mother tongue is not Malayalam will be exempted from taking examinations in Malayalam at the grades 9, 10, and higher secondary levels.