'RBI Mandate': PIL In Calcutta High Court Seeks Permission To Use Bengali Language In Banking Services In WB

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed before the Calcutta High Court seeking the use of Bengali language in banking services across the State, purportedly as per the mandate of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 

The petition has been filed by Bangla Pokkho Charitable Trust, a Bengali nationalist organisation. The matter is likely to come up before the Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj next week. 

The petition contends that the Chief General Manager of RBI vide a letter dated December 28, 2005 had advised all scheduled commercial banks in India to make available all printed material in trilingual form- English, Hindi and the concerned regional language. However, it is submitted that despite the direction, such practice is not followed by banks in the State, thereby making banking services inaccessible to a vast majority of the population. 

It is also highlighted that the RBI on July 1, 2014 had issued another Master Circular to this effect directing banks to provide banking services in the concerned regional language as well. 

The petitioner further contends that as per the 2011 Census, 86 percent of the population in West Bengal speaks in the Bengali language and furthermore 82 percent of the population is monolingual. 

It is also averred that the petitioner has initiated deputation drives in the local branches of various banks in the State. 

The petitioner is represented by Advocates Prasenjit Debnath, Poonam Basu and Sagnik Bhattacharya. 

Case Title: Bangla Pokkho Charitable Trust @Bangla Pokkho & Anr