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The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government tabled the Malayalam Language Bill (2025) in the Kerala Assembly on Monday. 

Law Minister P. Rajeeve stated that the Bill aims to enshrine the Malayalam language at the heart of official communications in the State. It also seeks to render it the legal language in courts trying lesser offences under the respective District Sessions Courts. 

Mr Rajeeve said the Bill also seeks to protect the rights of linguistic minorities, including citizens who consider Tamil, Kannada, Tulu and Kongu as their mother tongues.

“The Bill conserves their right to use their respective language or English for their communications with the government”, he added. 

He said the Bill seeks to render Malayalam as Kerala’s sole official language. The State now recognises English and Malayalam as official languages. The draft law also proposed to make Malayalam the first language in schools. 

The Bill proposes the creation of a Malayalam Language Development Directorate under the aegis of the Official Language Wing for Personnel and Administrative Reforms. 

Mr Rajeeve said the Bill renders Malayalam as the official language of ordinances promulgated by the Kerala Governor, bills introduced in the Assembly, acts passed by the Legislature, and also rules, orders, regulations, and by-laws of the government, with English translations provided. 

Mr Rajeeve said that earlier versions of the Bill, aimed at preserving, nurturing, and developing Malayalam against the backdrop of the global march of foreign languages, chiefly English, failed to receive gubernatorial and presidential assent.

He said the Union government had raised objections regarding specific provisions. The complaints concerned the rights of linguistic minorities, trilingual education in compliance with the national curriculum and the Right to Education Act, 2009. 

Mr Rajeeve said the Bill seeks to rectify the anomalies while preserving the soul of safeguarding and promoting the Malayalam language and culture. 

He blamed the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) for “irresponsibly disrupting” the House during crucial legislative business. 

He noted that a “clueless and subject-starved” UDF members made a mockery of themselves by walking out at the end of adjournment debates allowed by the government, which had nothing to obfiscate. 

Mr Rajeeve said the UDF surreptitiously withdrew its indefinite sit-in protest outside the Assembly chamber, protesting against the government’s police policy. “Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan has not explained why the much-touted protest inside the Assembly complex dissipated without a trace or a whimper. It seems UDF has no whip to scourge the government”, he added. 

The Treasury benches passed the government’s resolution seeking to send the Bill to the Kerala Legislative Assembly Subject Committee (14) by voice vote.