Subhas Chandra Pattanayak, Member of the Ministerial Committee on working of the Orissa Official Language Act,1954 has suggested that Section 3A of the Act be repealed. in order to remove the most notorious obstacle to its implementation.
His letter handed over to the Law secretary in person is given bellow.
To:
The Principal Secretary, Law,
Govt. of Orissa, BhubaneswarSub: Orissa Official Language Act, 1954_ Repeal of Sec. 3-A a necessity
Ref: The Draft of Proposed Amendment to the Act as submitted by me in the Ministerial
CommitteeSir,
The draft of amendment to Orissa Official Language Act under reference above is under your
active consideration for preparation for legislation, as I am informed by the concerned authority
in G.A.Department.At this stage it occurs to me that, unless the Section 3-A inserted to the original Act by way of
amendment in 1963 is repealed, the purpose of the Act would never be fulfilled. Without
questioning the legislative wisdom of the Assembly that could resolve to do away with the
constitutional stipulations in regard to regional language vis-à-vis English about two years ahead
of the expiration of the 15 year tag, I want to make it clear that, unless the said section 3-A is
repealed, Orissa shall have two parallel official languages, as English shall continue along with
Oriya in the rampart of democracy, thereby, as is being witnessed, engulfing the executive and
affecting the administration to the detriment of the health of Oriya language.Therefore, Sir, I request you to also consider this point and while vetting my draft, to please
suggest that Sec.3-A be repealed.
Kind Regards,
Yours,Subhas Chandra Pattanayak,
March 7, 2016
Member, Ministerial Committee on implementation of O.O.L.Act.1954