In a bid to enforce the Odia language norm strictly, Odisha Labour Commissioner on Thursday directed all the labour officers and Executive Officers of municipalities to check if the shopkeepers are using signboards in Odia language and take action against violators.
The decision was taken on Thursday in a meeting of the Additional Chief Secretary of the Odia Language Literature & Culture Department, Labour Commissioner and district labour officers.
As per the decision, the shopkeepers who deviate from the rule will now be served a seven-day notice. If they fail to comply with the norms in these seven days, penalty will be levied and if required their license will also be revoked.
On March 14, 2018, the State Cabinet approved an amendment in the Orissa Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956 making it mandatory for all shops and commercial establishments in Odisha to display signboards in Odia language.
As per the amendment, the shops and commercial establishments can write names on the signboards in any language but it should be prominent in Odia. It will be considered an offense if the names are not displayed in Odia and the violator will be fined as per the new provision.
The lawbreakers will have to pay penalties between Rs 1000 to 5000 in the first instance of violation in the court of the judicial magistrate and Rs 2000 to 25,000 when the offense is repeated.