All govt signboards to be written in Punjabi

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 21

On the International Mother Language Day today, the state government made it mandatory for all government and semi-government institutions, boards and corporations to have all signboards in Punjabi language. Besides, all milestones along state highways would also be painted in Gurmukhi script.

Higher Education and Languages Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said he had promised to implement this decision during the special session of the Vidhan Sabha to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

The department has issued orders under Section 4 of the Punjab State Language Act 1967. As per the orders, the signboards in all government and semi-government institutions, boards, corporations and milestones would be written at top in Punjabi and if the need arises to write in any other language also, it would be written below in smaller font.

The new regulations, however, will not apply to the national highways and various Union Government departments.

Rahul Bhandari, Secretary, Higher Education and Languages, has already sent letters to the heads of all state departments, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, district session judges, secretary, Vidhan Sabha, registrar, Punjab and Haryana High Court, chairmen of boards and corporations and all semi-government organisations.

The minister said to implement this decision in private business, industrial and educational establishments, the department had written to the Labour Department to issue a separate notification in this regard.