'People Have To Be Sensitized': Gujarat HC Disposes PIL To Implement Govt's Circular To Prioritise Use Of Gujarati At Public Places

The Gujarat High Court today disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea for the strict implementation of the Gujarat Government's circular to use the Gujarati language as a medium of communication in all government offices, complexes, public spaces and privately owned offices and buildings meant for the public use.

When the Counsel for the PIL petitioner/organisation Gujarati Vichar Manch submitted that in most places the language is being used but private persons are not following the circular for private-public premises (cinema halls, restaurants, etc.), the Bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P. Mayee remarked thus:

"Private people have to be sensitized, they can't be forced by a court's order. You start this with public meetings, and public slogans, there are many modes of sensitizing people. You can sensitize them about the benefits of using matrubhasha. We can't issue any mandamus to them."

However, the Court further asked the state's counsel to ensure that the government's circular in its true letter and spirit and with this, the PIL plea was disposed of.

During the course of the hearing, the Chief Justice said that she was observing that at most places Gujarati language was being used. She also said that she was trying to read and understand Gujarati. 

Recently, the High Court DISMISSED as 'misconceived' a PIL plea seeking a direction to the state govt to implement the (then) Governor's 2012 decision authorizing the use of the Gujarati Language in addition to English in the court proceedings before the HC.