Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday passed a bill which makes Marathi learning and teaching compulsory in schools and now the bill will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. However if any school is not implementing this rule will attract penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh.
A bill is generally introduced and approved in the Assembly first and then it goes to the Council. However, in this case, the Council chairman allowed the minister concerned to introduce the bill in the Upper House first.
The bill covers all schools irrespective of boards they are affiliated to.
Speaking in the house, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed happiness over the passage of the bill in the Council.
I will also pursue with the Centre the matter of granting classical language status to Marathi. I am happy that we are clearing the bill,” he said.
Council Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar said, As per legislative procedures, a bill is generally cleared in the assembly and then tabled in the Council.
“But as an exception, I am allowing Subhash Desai, Minister for Marathi Language, to table the bill (in the Upper House). Inputs from PTI
