A (PIL) petition has been filed before the High Court, challenging the inaction of the State Government in implementing theOfficial Languages Act, 1966 and subsequent GOs notifyingTeluguas the language to be used for all official correspondences within the state, including issuance ofgovernment orders(GO).
One Guntupalli Srinivas filed the petition arguing that only 13 per cent of the Population can understand the GOs issued in English, which is unfair, unjust and a violation of the basic postulates of Democracy.
Srinivas argued that transacting government business in English creates an uninformed or misinformed citizenry. He stated that of the 8.45 crore Telugu-speaking people only 1.1 crore can understand English. Eighty-seven per cent of the population cannot understand government orders in English.
Srinivas contended that the state government did not act on his various representations, requesting the constitution of aTelugu Language Development Authorityand appointing Official Language supervising officers as contemplated in various GOs issued. He pleaded the high court issue directions to the government to implement the Official Languages Act by introducing Telugu in all governmental business from the state secretariat to the village secretariat level.