TN ISSUE ADVISORY USE OF TAMIL: POLITY

TN ISSUE ADVISORY USE OF TAMIL: POLITY

NEWS: T.N. government issues advisory reiterating use of Tamil as official language in departments

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Tamil Nadu has re-emphasized the use of Tamil in all official communications, citing Article 345, which allows states to choose their official language. While constitutionally valid, the move highlights operational challenges in a multilingual federal system, especially in Centre-State interactions.

Context: Tamil Nadu Reaffirms Use of Tamil in Government Communication

  • The Tamil Nadu government has issued a fresh advisory to senior officials and heads of departments, reiterating existing rules mandating the use of Tamil as the official language in all government offices.
  • This move reflects the state’s commitment to linguistic pride and administrative autonomy, grounded in the Official Languages Act, 1956 and the constitutional provisions of Article 345.

Advisory Provisions Issued by Tamil Nadu Government

  • All government orders, circulars, and communications should be issued only in Tamil.
  • Letters received from the public in Tamil must be replied to in Tamil; internal file notes and memos on such letters should also be written in Tamil.
  • Government employees are instructed to sign only in Tamil in all official correspondence.
  • This advisory emphasizes total linguistic uniformity in the administrative process within the state.

Constitutional Basis: Article 345 and State Language Policy

  • Under Article 345, state legislatures are empowered to adopt any language in use within the state (including Hindi) as the official language for official purposes.
  • However, until a state enacts such a law, English will continue to be used for official work where it was used before the Constitution came into effect.
  • Tamil Nadu’s use of Tamil is therefore constitutionally valid, as it flows from its power under Article 345.

Official Language of the Union: Article 343 and Continuation of English

  • Article 343(1) states that Hindi in Devanagari script shall be the official language of the Union.
  • Article 343(2) provides for the use of English for a period of 15 years from 1950 for all official purposes of the Union.
  • Article 343(3) allows Parliament to legislate for the continuation of English beyond 1965.
  • As per the Official Languages Act, 1963 (Section 3), English continues to be used for Union government communications and parliamentary proceedings.

Administrative Concerns Arising from Tamil-only Mandate

  • Communication with Central Government or other States may face hurdles if documents are issued exclusively in Tamil without translation.
  • All India Services officers or officials from non-Tamil backgrounds may find it difficult to comply with Tamil-only signature or documentation requirements.
  • There is potential for delay or misinterpretation if proper translation infrastructure is not established.
  • Technological adjustments may be needed in administrative databases, digital systems, and e-governance platforms to support Tamil-only operations.
  • However, these challenges need to be weighed against the right of the state to promote its language and identity under federal principles.

Status of Hindi Language in the Indian Constitution

  • The Constitution does not designate any language as the “national language” of India.
  • Article 343(1) identifies Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union.
  • Article 351 directs the Union to promote Hindi, aiming to make it a medium of expression of India’s composite culture.
  • However, it also cautions against interfering with the style, expressions, and genius of Hindustani and other Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
  • Thus, the development of Hindi must be inclusive and non-impositional.

Eighth Schedule of the Constitution: Recognized Languages

  • Initially included 14 languages, the Eighth Schedule now has 22 official languages. These include:
  • Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri.
  • Notably, English is not listed in the Eighth Schedule.
  • It is classified as one of India’s 99 non-scheduled languages, but continues to be used widely for education, administration, judiciary, and diplomacy.

Broader Implications: Language, Identity, and Federalism

  • The Tamil Nadu directive aligns with the Dravidian movement’s historical resistance to Hindi imposition and reflects a strong assertion of Tamil linguistic identity.
  • The move resonates with regional autonomy within India’s federal framework, where states have the freedom to adopt their own official languages.
  • However, care must be taken to balance regional pride with functional efficiency, especially in inter-governmental interactions.
  • The issue also underscores the tensions between cultural identity and administrative pragmatism in India’s multilingual polity.

Conclusion

  • Tamil Nadu’s renewed emphasis on Tamil in administration is constitutionally valid, culturally significant, and politically resonant.
  • While it promotes linguistic preservation and inclusivity within the state, it also raises operational challenges requiring technological, administrative, and linguistic adaptation.
  • India’s language policy must continue to balance diversity, dignity, and dialogue, respecting both regional autonomy and national cohesion.

 

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-govt-issues-advisory-reiterating-use-of-tamil-as-official-language-in-departments/article69455927.ece