The Maharashtra government has granted a one-year grace period to non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to acquire basic conversational Marathi, providing temporary relief to thousands of drivers operating across the state.
The decision was announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday after representatives of Mumbai’s auto-rickshaw and taxi unions met him and sought more time for drivers to meet the language requirement.
Fadnavis said the unions had accepted the need for drivers to have a working knowledge of Marathi but requested an additional year to prepare. Accepting their demand, the government decided that no action would be taken against drivers solely for not knowing Marathi during the one-year extension.
Fadnavis Announces One-Year Extension
Explaining the decision, Fadnavis said, “Representatives of auto-rickshaw and taxi driver unions from Mumbai met me today. While they acknowledge the need to know Marathi, they requested an additional year to learn the language. I have decided to grant this one-year extension.”
The move comes amid an ongoing debate over the Maharashtra government’s requirement for auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers to possess a working knowledge of Marathi.
The language issue has drawn considerable attention, particularly among migrant drivers who depend on commercial driving for their livelihoods.
Eknath Shinde Says Drivers Need Only Conversational Marathi
The announcement came a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over Marathi proficiency certificates to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who had completed language courses.
Speaking at an event in Borivali, Shinde praised drivers who had taken steps to learn Marathi and said their efforts reflected respect for the state’s language.
Shinde maintained that drivers do not need advanced knowledge of Marathi for their profession. According to him, basic spoken Marathi is sufficient for everyday interactions with passengers.
He also described Marathi as a language that connects people across the state, while pointing out that Maharashtra may not be the birthplace of migrant drivers but remains their “karmabhoomi”, or workplace.
Shinde further argued that communication in Marathi could help drivers connect better with passengers and potentially improve their business.
Bombay High Court Petition Over Marathi Requirement
The government’s language policy has also reached the Bombay High Court, with several Mumbai cab drivers challenging the mandatory Marathi requirement.
The petition was filed through advocate Vivek Shukla, who argued that the government’s August 12 notification could adversely affect the livelihoods of a large number of drivers, particularly those from migrant communities.
The petitioners have invoked Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution, claiming that the requirement affects equality, the freedom to pursue a profession and the right to life.
They have also argued that the Motor Vehicles Act does not prescribe a language qualification for obtaining a driving licence, and have sought judicial intervention against implementation of the rule.
With the latest one-year extension, the Maharashtra government has temporarily eased enforcement while giving non-Marathi-speaking drivers additional time to acquire the required conversational skills.
