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Journalism of Courage
A division bench of the Gujarat High Court Thursday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking strict implementation of a 2022 circular of the Gujarat government mandating the use of Gujarati language in public offices and public spaces (such as malls, restaurants, cinemas). The court observed that the municipal corporations and municipalities shall ensure strict compliance with the said circular.
The PIL, moved by Mumbai-registered trust Gujarati Vichar Manch, submitted that while the circular of February 18, 2022, is being used in partial compliance, there has been no strict compliance by private players using public space.
To this, Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal orally remarked, “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.”
Chief Justice Agarwal further added that the court cannot issue any direction to the private players in this regard but suggested that they can instead be sensitised on the benefits of using mother tongue.
“You have to sensitise private people, they cannot be forced by an order of court. You can start with public meetings etc. There are many modes to sensitise people about language,” CJ Agarwal remarked.
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