+10-44-‘31Q Extraordinary Published by Authority Registered No. WB/SC-247 No. WB(Part-III)/2021/SAR-8 PHALGUNA 7] FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 [SAKA 1942
PART III—Acts of the West Bengal Legislature.
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL LAW DEPARTMENT Legislative NOTIFICATION No. 205-L.-26th February, 2021.—The following Act of the West Bengal Legislature, having been assented to by the Governor, is hereby published for general infoiniation:— West Bengal Act VIII of 2021 THE WEST BENGAL OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021.
[Passed by the West Bengal Legislature.]
Short title and commencement.
[Assent of the Governor was first published in the Kolkata Gazette, Extraordinary, of the 26th February, 2021.]
An Act to amend the West Bengal Official Language Act, 1961.
WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the West Bengal Official Language Act, 1961, for the purposes and in the manner hereinafter appearing;
It is hereby enacted in the Seventy-second Year of the Republic of India, by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows:-
1. (1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021.
West Ben. Act XXIV of 1961.
2 THE KOLKATA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 [PART III The West Bengal Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021.
(Sections 2-5.)
Amendment of section 2 of West Ben. Act XXIV of
1961.
Insertion of new section 3D after section 3C.
Amendment of section 4.
Amendment of section 5.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. In section 2 of the West Bengal Official Language Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in clause (aa),—
(1) for the words "Kurmali speaking people", the words "Kurmali speaking people or Telegu speaking people" shall be substituted;
(2) for the words "the Kurmali Language", the words "the Kurmali Language, the Telegu Language" shall be substituted.
3. After section 3C of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted:— "Use of Telegu 3D. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3, section 3A, Language in rules and regulations section 3AA, section 3B and section 3C, with effect from such date as etc. the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, the Telegu Language may in addition to the Bengali Language, the Nepali Language, the Urdu Language, the Hindi Language, the Santhali Language, the Oriya Language, the Punjabi Language, the Kurukh Language, the Kamtapuri Language, the Rajbanshi Language and the Kurmali Language be used for such—
(a) rules, regulations and by-laws made by the State Government under the Constitution of India or any law made by the Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal;
(b) notification or order issued by the State Government under the Constitution of India or any law made by the Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal;
(c) petitions and applications and replies thereof, in public offices;
(d) documents received by public offices;
(e) important Government advertisement, announcement to be published; and
(f) important signpost to be exhibited, as to apply in the District or Sub-division or Block or Municipality, as the case may be, where the population of Telegu speaking people exceeds ten per cent as a whole or part of the District like Sub-division or Block, as may be notified by the State Government:
Provided that different dates may be appointed in respect of different matters referred to in clauses (a) to (f).
Explanation.— For the purpose of this section, the words "law made by the Parliament or the Legislature of West Bengal" shall include any law made before or after the commencement of the Constitution of India by any Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India having power to make such a law.".
4. In section 4 of the principal Act, for the words, figure and letter "or section 3C", the words, figures and letters "or section 3C or section 3D" shall be substituted.
5. In section 5 of the principal Act, for the words "or the Kurukh Language", the words "or the Kurukh Language or the Telegu Language" shall be substituted.
By order of the Governor, SUGATO MAJUMDAR, Secy. to the Govt. of West Bengal, Law Department.
Published by Law Department, Government of West Bengal and Printed at Saraswaty Press Ltd.(Government of West Bengal Enterprise), Kolkata 700 056.
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