The ordinances published in English by the main departments of the Secretariat must translate into Tamil, says the notice.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has issued a notice to all heads of departments and senior officials who asked them to use Tamil as a language in all official communications, except the exempt categories.
V Rajaman, Secretary, Department of Development and Information Tamil, on April 14 on the notice, he said that government orders and official circulars must be issued only in Tamil. He reiterated the existing provisions and orders that demanded the use of Tamil as an official language in all government offices.
The letter went to the addition to the secretaries, main secretaries, secretaries, departments of the Secretariat, district collectors and chordination of department leaders to the official language law, Tamil is the official language of the government of Tamil Nadu, according to the letter.
The letters received in Tamil from the public must be answered in Tamil and all references must be in Tamil. Government officials must sign in Tamil. The ordinances published in English by the main departments of the Secretariat must translate into Tamil, says the notice.
The notice referred to the government order issued by the Department on the implementation of the Official Languages Law of Tamil from 1971 to March 18, 2025 that highlighted the various initiatives in the development of the Tamil language.
The notice assumes importance after the comments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rameswaram on April 6. PM Modi said that while receiving several letters from Tamil Nadu leaders, none is signed in Tamil. If they are really proud of their language, they should at least sign their names in Tamil, he said while heading to a public demonstration after inaugurating the newly built Pamban bridge.
The notice comes at a time when the government of Tamil Nadu is increasing its commitment against the center of three language formula that said it was a movement to impose Hindi in the state.
Posted on April 16, 2025