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Mis-use of Kannada by Registrar of Societies
Written By murali772 - 27 December, 2010
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The Registrar of Societies has a very important function to perform in the state, particularly with associations multiplying in their numbers by the day. As it is, they are short of capacity to handle the job they are assigned, effectively. On top of it all, are the fresh problems, brought on by themselves, in the name of promoting Kannada, but essentially for making under-hand money for the officials involved.
And, the Kannada usage is not confined just to correspondence, but extends to the entire set of related documentation.
Now, the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963 (the latest amendment being on 9.3.82), clearly states that "English is to be continued to be used for official purposes until the government otherwise directs". And, the government has not directed otherwise until now, as per my understanding.
When questioned about this, under the RTI, the RoS responded (again, totally in Kannada), citing a government notice, which essentially directs the promotion of Kannada, but chose to remain totally silent on the legal aspects of the matter. I have of course gone on appeal to the Karnataka Information Commission.
We, in PRAJA, are ourselves a victim of this, with the office of the RoS sending us around in circles, while attempting to register as a society, since even a 'Kuvempu' will not be able to manage the language technicalities they are invoking. We have drafted and re-drafted our Memorandum of Association some five times, each time translating it into Kannada. And each time, it has been rejected, on account of some 'short-coming' or the other, the language mis-match becoming an effective tool in their hands, in the process.
The truth came out last week when a friend told me about how he 'sorted out' the matter with the help of a broker, the job getting done in a jiffy, but for a consideration of Rs 5,000/-, in cash, of course.
When I made a posting of my blog on a related matter on the 'SaveKoramangala' Yahoo-group, the following is what a true-blue Kannadiga office-bearer of an association wrote back to me:
Dear Mr Murali,
I am a Kannadiga by birth and Kannada is my spoken language. It has become almost impossible to deal with the RoS. I suggest that a group of associations should meet the Revenue Secretary to appraise him of the troubles they are facing due to Kannadisation. It is alright to sumit the covering letter in Kannada, but not the translations of technical details of the Minutes of Meetings of the AGM etc. Pl read the attachged letter I wrote to the president of an NGO whose details I tried to file with the RoS (The letter is attached, with the names masked).
The best way apparently to counter this would be for the Kannadiga's themselves to speak up, like the Koramangala resident has done, and to say a loud 'saaku' to misuse of their revered language.
Muralidhar Rao
COMMENTS
murali772 - 9 November, 2012 - 09:30
While seeking Justice Santosh Hegde's opinion on the "right to response in English" issue (check here), I also referred to the related matter of the Registrar of Societies, Karnataka, insisting on all original documentation being in Kannada, apart from the Information Commissioner's remark "the petitioner is enquiring about future course of action from the respondent, is not information as defined under Sec 2 (f) of RTI Act" (refer para 5 of the order, accessible here and here).
Justice Hegde stated that categorising seeking of "clarification with regard to a future course of action" as "not information" was facetious mis-interpretation of the sections of the Act, the Information Commissioner had grossly erred in making such an interpretation, and that the same needs to be challenged lest it becomes a precedent and others start mis-using it in future.
Well, that's another job on hand now.
PS: I had obtained Justice Hegde's permission before making this post, though not of the exact text. Since the matter involves quasi-judicial bodies, I wish to add that Justice Hegde is not to be held liable for any inaccuracies.
kbsyed61 - 28 December, 2010 - 02:59
Murali Sir,
If push comes to shove, you will be left with no other alternative but to shove. I think it is time to talk to revenue secretary and apprise him of the circles we have to go around. You can't take it laying low.
-Syed
We should promote local languages
srkulhalli - 29 December, 2010 - 11:48
If you were Spain, you would trouble yourself to learn spanish right ? or any other country for that matter. Just because the hosts are nice, doesnt mean we should not be nice to them and learn their language !
If they are corrupt, they would be corrupt in English as well - language has nothing to do with it - dont mix up issues.
Suhas (long time !)
murali772 - 30 December, 2010 - 07:18
@ Suhas
When you come on after a long time, it will be good if you could go into the fuller details of what is being written, and then make your comments, instead of mixing issues. As for promotion of local language and culture, there are many better ways of doing it - here's an example
Why can't what is applicable to courts be applicable to RoS?
murali772 - 7 August, 2012 - 07:10
Due to the technical reasons Kannada language can not be made as an administrative language in High Court, said Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen on Monday.
- - -Justice Sen observed that Kannada can be used along with English in district and session courts.
During the hearing of petition filed by R K G M M Mahaswami, Justice Sen said that if Kannada was made the administrative language in High Court then it would violate Section 348 of Constitution. A petition was filed before the Delhi High Court to make Hindi the administrative language but it was rejected as generally English is used everywhere and advocates can argue their cases anywhere in the country. “If Kannada is made the administrative language then it may make the hearings in the court difficult,” observed Sen. Chief Justice N K Jain committee recommended to use Kannada as administrative language along with English in district and session courts. The state had issued notification in this regard. ‘The court can not make Kannada as the administrative language,” Sen remarked.
For the full text of the report in the New Indian Express, click here.
When the Justice N K Jain committee recommendation was for use of Kannada as administrative language along with English in district and session courts, shouldn't the Registrar of Societies, Karnataka, also be allowing documentation in English if a society prefers it that way, like in the case of the international organisation referred to in the attachment to the original post?
More and more, it looks like only directives from courts will be obeyed by the government agencies.
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