Will bring in ordinance to make Kannada mandatory on name boards: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Citing a circular issued on March 24, 2018, he said, “According to the circular, it was 60 per cent in Kannada and 40 per cent in other languages. However, when the bylaw was amended, it became 50-50. So in the meeting it has been decided to modify it to 60-40 per cent, and I have directed officials to bring in an ordinance.”

According to section 17 (6) of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act 2022, the upper half portion of boards displaying the names of commercial, industrial and business undertakings, trusts, counselling centres, hospitals, laboratories, amusement centres and hotels etc functioning with the approval and sanction of government or local authorities shall be in Kannada and the lower half can be in any other language.

“Today we decided that the signboards and name plates should be 60:40 as per the previous circular. We will bring an amendment to section 17(6) of the said Act, which was introduced by the Kannada and culture department,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also warned the vandals who went on a rampage on Wednesday damaging offices, shops, other businesses and buildings in protest against nameplates and signboards not displaying information in Kannada.

“The government is not against peaceful protests at a designated place. We will not stop anyone from protesting because we believe in democracy and the Constitution, but if anyone goes against the law then the government will not tolerate it,” he added.

Bengaluru Commissioner of Police B Dayananda said that 10 FIRs had been registered in connection with the vandalism, adding that the police had arrested 53 people. Among those arrested and sent to judicial custody is Kannada Rakshana Vedike president TA Narayana Gowda.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike recently issued a circular where it said that all commercial establishments in the city must erect signage in Kannada prominently before February 28, 2024. There are 1,400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in Bengaluru and all the commercial establishments will be surveyed zone-wise, the civic body said, adding that notices would be served on those who do not follow the Kannada rule.

According to BBMP regulations, 60 per cent of the writings on the name boards must be in Kannada. Though the rule was already in place, the circular was issued after pro-Kannada groups protested around Chickpet and other places on December 22 demanding enforcement of the rule.