SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 providing for the languages to be used for the official purposes of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and for matters connected therewith has received the assent of the President and notified by the Centre.
As per the Centre’s notification appearing in the official Gazette, this Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 as per which, the Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi and English languages shall be the official languages to be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory; provided that the English language may continue to be used, for those administrative and legislative purposes, in the Union territory for which it was being used before the commencement of this Act.
The Act further provides that the business in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory shall be transacted in the official language or languages of the Union territory.
The Administrator (Lieutenant Governor) may, for the promotion and development of regional languages of the Union territory, take necessary steps to strengthen the existing institutional mechanisms such as the Academy of Art, Culture and languages in the Union territory.
It further provides that the institutional mechanisms shall make special efforts for the promotion and development of Gojri, Pahari and Punjabi languages.
