The World Tamil Research Trust v. The Government Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 30.07.2024 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.D.KRISHNAKUMAR, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU The World Tamil Research Trust Rep by its Chairman C.Kanagaraj No.261/127, 1 Floor, Rohit Tower Angappa Naicken Street, Parrys Corner Chennai- 600 001.
.. Petitioner Vs 1 The Government of Tamil Nadu Tamil and Information Department The Ministry of Culture Rep by its Secretary Fort St George, Chennai - 600 009.
2 The Chief Secretary to Government and Tamil Nadu, Fort St George Chennai - 600 009.
3 The Union Ministry of Art and Culture Rep by its Principal Secretary C-Wing, Shasthri Bhawan New Delhi - 110015.
4 The Union Ministry of Finance 3rd Floor, Jeevan Deep Building Sansad Marg New Delhi, Delhi - 110 001.
5 The Home Minister Rep by its Secretary Union of India New Delhi - 110 001.
6 The Ministry of Civil Aviation Rep by its Secretary Room No.274, B-Block Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan SJ Airport New Delhi - 110003.
7 The Archaeological Survey of India 24, Tilak Marg, Bhagwan Das Lane Mandi House, New Delhi - 110 001.
.. Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to make the Tamil announcement in all the Domestic Flight Flying in Tamilnadu State.
For the Petitioner : Mr.C.Kanagaraj Party-in-person For the Respondents : Mr.A.Edwin Prabakar State Government Pleader for respondents 1 and 2 : Mr.R.Rajesh Vivekananthan Deputy Solicitor General for respondents 3 to 5 and 7 : Mr.A.Kumaraguru Senior Panel Counsel for 6th respondent
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice) The Chairman of the World Tamil Research Trust, namely, Mr.C.Kanagaraj, has filed this writ petition, under the guise of public interest litigation, to direct the respondents to make the Tamil announcement in all the domestic flights flying in the State of Tamil Nadu.
2. According to the petitioner, he is a practising lawyer in the High Court and he is a frequent domestic flier. It is averred by the petitioner that the Tamil language is one of the best classical languages and the mother of other languages like Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu etc. and also mother of world top languages like Sanskrit, Latin, Greek etc. As per Section 4A of the Official Languages Act, the State Government has issued a notification that Tamil language shall be used as official language in all the State Government offices and also in Courts, Tribunals for recording of evidences and all trial proceedings.
3. According to the petitioner, the Government of Tamil Nadu had not developed the Tamil language like Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu, respectively, and the Kannada language and Telugu language have a separate Act for the development of the language, whereas in the Tamil Nadu, except the Tamil Language Development Council and constituting the World Tamil Research Organisation, the State Government has not come forward to take any further measure for the development of the language. In this regard, the petitioner has submitted a representation on 4.10.2021 to the respondents. The present writ petition is filed for the development of the Tamil language and the petitioner has also given valuable suggestions to the Government of Tamil Nadu for the development of the language. Since the said representation did not evoke any response, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.
4. The first respondent has filed the counter-affidavit, inter alia, stating that the State Government had requested the 6th
respondent to make necessary arrangement for the use of Tamil language besides English and Hindi for making announcements in the flights operated to and fro Chennai at both the domestic and international terminals. In the counter-affidavit, it has also been stated that the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Official Language, has conveyed no objection to the decision taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding the use of Tamil language besides English and Hindi for making all types of flight announcements at Chennai Airport and that the Airport Authority of India had mandated all non-silent Airports to make public announcements first in the local language followed by Hindi and English.
5. Learned counsel for the sixth respondent submitted that the representation of the petitioner will be considered by the sixth respondent within the stipulated time.
6. In the light of the above and in view of the limited prayer sought in the writ petition, we direct the sixth respondent to
consider and pass orders on the representation of the petitioner dated 4.10.2021, in accordance with law, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and communicate a decision thereon to the petitioner.
7. With the above observations, the writ petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. (D.K.K., ACJ.) (K.B., J.) 30.07.2024 Index :
Yes/No NC :
Yes/No bbr To:
1 The Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu Tamil and Information Department Ministry of Culture Fort St George, Chennai - 600 009.
2 The Chief Secretary to Government and Tamil Nadu, Fort St George Chennai - 600 009.
3 The Principal Secretary Union Ministry of Art and Culture C-Wing, Shasthri Bhawan New Delhi - 110015.
4 The Union Ministry of Finance 3rd Floor, Jeevan Deep Building Sansad Marg New Delhi, Delhi - 110 001.
5 The Secretary Home Minister Union of India New Delhi - 110 001.
6 The Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation Room No.274, B-Block Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan SJ Airport New Delhi - 110003.
7 The Archaeological Survey of India 24, Tilak Marg, Bhagwan Das Lane Mandi House, New Delhi - 110 001.
THE HON'BLE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE AND K.KUMARESH BABU,J.
bbr 30.07.2024