Gujarat High Court on Use of Gujarati Language in Public and Private Spaces
The Gujarat High Court recently addressed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought the strict implementation of a 2022 circular from the Gujarat government. This circular mandated the use of the Gujarati language in public offices and spaces, including malls, restaurants, and cinemas. The court emphasized that while municipal corporations and municipalities should ensure strict adherence to the said circular, private entities cannot be compelled to do so.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The PIL, filed by the Mumbai-registered trust, Gujarati Vichar Manch, highlighted that while there has been partial compliance with the February 18, 2022, circular, private players utilizing public spaces have not strictly adhered to it. In response, Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal commented,
“In all government communication it is being used… I can also read Gujarati now to some extent. I’m trying to understand… I’m looking at the signboards these days to understand Gujarati, and to read it. I’m getting it mostly at most of the places in Ahmedabad city, barring a few.”
Further, during the hearing, the division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee, noted that the Gujarati language is prominently used in most public spaces, with a few exceptions. However, when the petitioner pointed out the lack of implementation in private spaces like malls, Chief Justice Agarwal clarified the court’s stance. She stated,
“You will have to sensitise the private people. They cannot be forced by an order of the Court (to use Gujarati). You start a ‘muhim’ (campaign) sort of a thing to sensitise people. You can start with public meetings, and public slogans, there are many modes of sensitising people. You can sensitise them not only mandating them to use the language but also about the benefits of using ‘Matrubhasha.’ We cannot issue any mandamus.”
The court’s decision underscores the importance of promoting regional languages while respecting the autonomy of private entities.
