No fixed criteria for constitutional inclusion of languages: MHA

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 29, 2022

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs asserted “no fixed criteria for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution”.

The Ministry of Home Affairs informed Disparsing Rani in reply to his queries under the Right to Information Act, 2005 submitted on June 10 this year.

The MHA replied that the Department of Official Language, MHA vide their O.M No. 15016/02/2019-O.L(Policy) dated 05.03.2019 had forwarded the Meghalaya Government’s letter dated 25.02.2019, with  previous letter dated 14.12.2018 for inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Thereafter, Government of Meghalaya has sent another letter dated 17.06.2020 to this Division for enquiring about the latest status of the proposal of inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Fighth Schedule of the Constitution and a reply to which had already been sent vide letter No. IV-14014/04/2014-NI-II dated 14.07.2020.

Regarding inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution is concerned, the MHA informed that at present there are no fixed criteria for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

As the evolution of dialects and languages is a dynamic process, influenced by socio-cultural, economic and political developments.  It is difficult to fix any criterion for languages, whether to distinguish them from dialects, or for inclusion in the Eight Schedule to the Constitution of India.

The earlier attempts through the Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant onapatra (2003) Committees, to evolve such fixed criteria have been inconclusive. Government is conscious of the sentiments and requirements for inclusion of other languages in Eight Schedule. Such requests have to be considered keeping in mind these sentiments, and the other relevant considerations