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O.M. No. I/14013/09/99-OL (P-1), dated 9.12.1999
Subject:— Applicability of the official language policy of the Government of India to autonomous bodies etc. clarification—
regarding
Attention of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare etc. is invited to the deliberations of the Central Official
Language Implementation Committee held on 16, 17 and 18 June, 1999. A specific clarification was sought in the meeting by
a representative of a participating Department, whether orders regarding the Official Language Policy of the Government
were applicable or not to the autonomous bodies. After consultations with the Ministry of Law, it is now clarified as
below:—
(1) Art. 343(1) of the Constitution states that the Official Language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devnagari script. As
per clause (2) of the Article, for a period of 15 years from the date of the commencement of the Constitution, the English
language shall continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before
such commencement. The proviso to clause (2) provides that the President may, during the said period, by order authorise
the use of Hindi language in addition to English language. Clause (3) states that Parliament may by law provide for the use,
after the said period of 15 years, of the English language for such purposes as may be prescribed by law.
(2) The Official Languages Act, 1963 was enacted in pursuance of clause (3) of Art. 343 and clause (2) of Art. 120 of the
Constitution to provide for the continued use of English language in addition to Hindi for all official purposes of the Union
for which it was being used immediately before the 26 January, 1965 and for transaction of business in Parliament.
(3)The autonomous bodies and registered societies promoted or set up by the Government of India are
instrumentalities of the Union and come within the purview of Art. 343 of the Constitution.
(4) It may, however, be noted that Official Languages Act merely continues the use of English language in addition
to Hindi. It does not provide anything which can be interpreted as limitation on the Government 's power to implement its
policies with regard to the use of official language Hindi in pursuance of the provision contained in PART XVII of the
Constitution.
(5) It is also pertinent to mention that Art. 343 and 344 deal with the process of transition.The ultimate aim is provided
in Art.351 which fulfills the object of the spread and development of Hindi langauage and enrichment of the composite
culture of India. Therefore, keeping in view the scheme provided in the Constitution to promote, develop and implement the
official language Hindi, the policy and orders of Govt. of India pursuant to PART XVII of the Constitution may be applicable
to the autonomus bodies and registered societies set up at the initiated of the Govt. of India.
(6) In view of the forgoing autonomus bodies/registered societies promoted or set up by the Government of India are
covered by the provisions of Art. 343(1) and without any amendment in the Official Language Act, they are required to
implement the policy and orders of the Government of India with regard to transaction of their official business through the
official language Hindi.
(For publication in the Gazette of India, Part-I, Volume-I both in Hindi and English in diglot form)
No. I/20012/4/92-O.L. (Policy-I)
New Delhi-110 003. Dated 24 November, 1998
RESOLUTION
The Committee of Parliament on Official Language was constituted under section 4 (1) of the Official Languages Act,
1963. The Committee submitted fifth part of its Report, relating to language(s) of the legislation and languages to be used
in various courts and tribunals to the President.
In accordance with Section 4(3) of the Official Languages Act, 1963, the Report was laid on the table of Lok Sabha and
on the table of Rajya Sabha. Copies of the Report were sent to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and
to all States/Union Territories. After considering the views expressed by the State/Union Territory Governments and
various Ministries/Departments/Institutions besides the Supreme Court of India and the legal position and practical
possibilities, decision has been taken to accept some recommendations of the Committee in their original form, some others
have not been accepted. Accordingly, the undersigned is directed to convey the Orders of the President made under
section 4 (4) of the Official Languages Act, 1963 on the recommendations made in the Report of the Committee as follows:-