Language Dept writes to Punjab AG office for using Punjabi in official work

The Language Department Punjab has written to the Punjab Advocate General office, urging it for directions to ensure the ‘use of Punjabi language’. The letter comes following intimation from a Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer, who had highlighted that other languages were being preferred instead of the mother tongue.The letter, a copy of which is with The Tribune, shot to the Advocate General, Punjab, states that advocate Ranjivan Singh had brought to notice the issue of the use of Punjabi language during routine work and display work at the Advocate General office.

“The advocate concerned has asked for the use of office stationery, office briefs, nameplates and on flags affixed on government vehicles attached with the Advocate General office in Punjabi language. Therefore, as per the Punjab State Language Act-1967 under Section 4 and Punjab Official Language (amended) Act-2008, it has been made mandatory for all government and semi-government institutions, boards, corporations and educational institutes to write all department stationery, briefs, names and office signboards in Punjabi language”, states the letter dated August 13.

Director of Punjab Language Department Jaswant Singh Zafar said that after the matter was brought to their notice by an advocate, they had written to the Advocate General office. “We have asked them to issue necessary directions. We are waiting for a reply. It might take a few days as we wrote the letter yesterday only,” he stated.

Earlier in July 2022, the Punjab Government had directed all heads of the departments to strictly adhere to the directive of using Punjabi as the official language for all department names, signboards and nameplates.

To ensure compliance, a letter was sent to heads of all state departments, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, district session judges, secretary of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, registrar of Punjab and Haryana High Court, chairmen of boards and corporations and all semi-government organisations by Principal Secretary, Higher Education and Languages Department in 2022.