This move aims to promote the use of local languages in government offices and enhance administrative efficiency.
Assamese to be compulsory official language for all government notifications, orders, acts and other such works in Assam, announced Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday. He further said that Bengali and Bodo will be used respectively in the districts of Barak Valley and Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
In an X post, Sarma said, “Beginning this Bohag, Assamese will be the compulsory official language for all government notifications, orders, acts, etc, across Assam. In the districts of Barak Valley and BTR, Bengali and Bodo languages shall be used respectively.”
Assamese to be used alongside English in all official works
“In exercise of the powers conferred under section 7 read with section 3 of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960 (Assam Act No. XXXIII of 1960) the Governor of Assam is hereby pleased to make the following directions for the use of Assamese as the Official Language in the state of Assam and use of local languages in the Barak Valley, Hill Districts, and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) under the Sixth Schedule areas,” the official notification reads.
The notification states that all Notifications, Orders, Acts, Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines issued by the Central Government shall be published by translating them into Assamese (Bodo and Bengali, wherever applicable) within thirty (30) days of receipt by the department concerned.
Legacy documents comprising Acts, Rules, Regulations, and Notifications shall also be translated into Assamese (Bodo and Bengali, wherever applicable) over a period of two years in a phased manner. The translation work shall be undertaken with the assistance of the language departments of the Universities.
In the event of any ambiguity, discrepancy, or requirement of legal interpretation, the English version of such laws, Notifications, Roles, Regulations, and ordinances shall prevail.
“The English language shall continue to be used for communication with the government of India, central government offices and other state governments establishments,” the notification by the Assam government read.
The government said that for “interpretation of the provisions contained in any rules, acts, regulations, office order, court orders or judgements, the English version shall prevail”.
“For the purpose of translation from the English language to Assamese, Bengali and Bodo language, the Anuvaad Bhashini App may be used. However, officers shall exercise due discretion and carefully review the translated versions to ensure accuracy and correctness, as the order states,” it added.
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