1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Jammu and
Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020.
(2) It extends to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
(3) It shall come into force on such date1
as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:
Provided that the Administrator may appoint different dates for different areas in the
Union territory.
2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Administrator” means the Lieutenant Governor of the Union territory of Jammu
and Kashmir appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution;
(b) “Union territory” means the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
3. Official languages of Union territory.—With effect from such date as the
Administrator may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, the
Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi and English languages shall be the official languages to be
used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory:
Provided that the English language may continue to be used, for those administrative and
legislative purposes, in the Union territory for which it was being used before the
commencement of this Act:
Provided further that the business in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory shall
be transacted in the official language or languages of the Union territory.
4. Promotion and development of regional languages.— (1) The Administrator may, for
the promotion and development of regional languages of the Union territory, take necessary
steps to strengthen the existing institutional mechanisms such as the Academy of Art, Culture
and languages in the Union territory.
(2) The institutional mechanisms referred to in sub-section (1) shall make special efforts
for the promotion and development of Gojri, Pahari and Punjabi languages.