Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005
No: 10 Dated: May, 04 2005
THE MEGHALAYA STATE LANGUAGE ACT, 2005
ACT NO. 10 OF 2005
An Act To provide for the language (s) to be used for official purposes for the State of Meghalaya. Whereas, Art, 345 of the Constitution of India provides that the Legislature of a State may, by law, adopt anyone or more of the language in use in the State as the Language to be used for official purposes of the State and for matters connected therewith.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya in the Fifty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
1. Short title and Commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Meghalaya.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette appoints and different dates may be appointed for different Official purposes and for different parts of the State of Meghalaya;
Provided that the date or dates appointed by the State Government in respect of any parts of the State of Meghalaya shall not be later than five years from the date of the assent to this Act.
2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant to the context:-
(a) “Act” means the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2004;
(b) “Association official language” means a language prescribed under section 4 of the Act, or such language (s) as may be prescribed under provision of section 5 of this Act;
(c) “Autonomous District” means an area deemed as such under paragraph 1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India;
(d) “District Council” means a District Council constituted under para 2 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India;
(e) “Government” means the Government of the State of Meghalaya;
(f) “Notification” means a notification published by Government in the Official Gazette;
(g) “Official Gazette” means the Meghalaya Gazette; and
(h) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
3. Official Language of the State of Meghalaya:- Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 343 and 347 of the Constitution of India and the provisions of the Meghalaya State Legislature (continuance of the English Language) Act, 1980 and subject to as hereinafter provided, the English language, shall continue to be the official language of the State of Meghalaya.
4. Association Official Language (s) of the State:- Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 3, the Khasi language may be used as the associate official language for all purposes in the District, Sub-Divisions and Block level offices of the State Government located in the Districts of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hilss and Ri-Bhoi. The Garo Language may be used as associate official language for all purposes in the District, Sub-Divisions and Block Level Offices of East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills;
Provided that only the English language shall continue to be used in all Civil and Criminal Courts located in the State;
Provided, further, that all Inter-District Official communications shall continue to be in the English language.