Why does Karnataka object to Kerala’s Malayalam bill? The whole story of the dispute between two states

Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah government is angry over the Malayalam Language Bill 2025 passed in the Kerala Assembly. The Governor has not yet approved this bill, but even before that there has been a fight in two states over language. If this bill is passed, Malayalam will become the official language of the state in Kerala. The Kerala government wants to make Malayalam language mandatory in government education, judiciary, public communication, business and digital sectors. The Kerala government argues that the new rules are in accordance with the constitutional provisions.

The Karnataka government is angry over the ‘Malayalam Language Bill 2025’ of the Kerala government. The Karnataka government says that a large number of Kannada speakers live in Kasaragod, Kerala. He believes that making Malayalam compulsory in schools will affect the education of Kannada speakers.

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What will happen with the new bill?

Both English and Malayalam are considered official languages ​​in Kerala. Under the new bill, Malayalam will be made a compulsory first language till Class 10 in all government and government-aided schools. Court decisions and proceedings will also be translated into Malayalam language. All bills and ordinances will be introduced in Malayalam. Important central and state laws published in English will also be translated into Malayalam.

The Department of Information Technology will be given the responsibility of developing open source software and instruments for effective use of Malayalam. The government will rename the existing Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Official Language) in the Secretariat as the Malayalam Language Development Department. Malayalam Language Development Directorate will also be formed.

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Why is the bill being brought?

This bill was brought because about 10 years ago, in 2015, the Kerala government had introduced the Malayalam language bill. This bill brought a provision to make Malayalam the official language and use it in all government works. Despite being passed by the Assembly, the President did not give assent to it because it was a violation of the Official Language Act, 1963.

The central government had objected to provisions related to the rights of linguistic minorities, the three language formula of the National Education Curriculum and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The new bill has been brought to remove these shortcomings.

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Why does Karnataka have objection to the bill?

Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Karnataka:-
The proposed Malayalam Language Bill-2025, by making Malayalam mandatory as the first language even in Kannada medium schools, is a direct attack on the linguistic freedom and reality of the border districts of Kerala, especially Kasaragod.

The Karnataka government is calling this bill unconstitutional. The Karnataka government believes that this bill is a threat to the linguistic identity of the Kannada speaking minorities living in Kerala. This bill is against the interests of Kasaragod, a Kannada speaking district.

Kannada speaking students in Kasaragod are currently taught Kannada as the first language in schools. A team of Karnataka Border Area Development Authority (KBADA) has submitted a memorandum to Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar demanding rejection of the bill.

What are the arguments of the Karnataka government?

Kasaragod is a Kannada speaking district. Linguistic minorities live here. This bill is a violation of the rights of Karnataka speakers. Karnataka Border Area Development Authority says linguistic minority students in Kasaragod and other Kannada-speaking areas of Kerala currently study Kannada as their first language in schools. The Karnataka government argues that this will affect the interests of Kannada speakers as Malayalam language is being forcibly imposed on them.

What are the arguments of the Kannada government?

While presenting the bill, Law Minister P Rajeev had said that this bill protects the rights of linguistic minorities. The government says that there are provisions in this bill also for those whose mother tongue is Tamil, Kannada, Tulu or Konkani. The bill mentions that minorities in such areas will correspond with the state government secretariat, department heads and local offices in their own language.

Apart from Malayalam, students having mother tongue other than Malayalam will be able to study in the existing languages ​​as per the National Education Programme. Students coming from other states or abroad will be exempted from appearing in Malayalam examination at class 9, 10 and higher secondary level. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also clarified that the bill does not impose any language and is in line with the Constitution.

What is the Kerala government saying on Karnataka’s objection?

P Rajeev, Law Minister, Kerala:-
The views of the Karnataka Chief Minister seem to be based on the provisions of the old bill. He has probably adopted a wrong stance on the instructions of Congress. When the new bill was introduced in the House, the opposition Congress was sitting outside the House in protest against the Sabarimala gold dispute, so perhaps they are not aware of it. When the Chief Minister of Karnataka opposed the Bill, which is the collective sentiment of the State, it was the responsibility of the Opposition to tell him that the rights of linguistic minorities have been protected.

How many Kannada speaking people are there in Kerala?

Kasaragod district of Kerala is linguistically and culturally associated with Karnataka. This district is known as the confluence of seven languages ​​of Kerala. Kannada language is spoken in Kasaragod and Kodugo districts. Along with Malayalam, languages ​​like Konkani, Marathi, Beyari and Urdu are spoken in Kasaragod. The population of Kasaragod is about 13 lakhs. About 71 percent people speak Tulu, 16 percent speak Kannada and 6 percent speak Konkani and Marathi. In areas like Manjeshwaram, the number of Kannada and Tulu speakers is more than 75 percent. Karnataka is concerned that if this bill is passed, it will be injustice to linguistic minorities.