The Gujarat Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Gujarati Language Act, 2023.

IV Ex.-4           4-1 

Extra No. 4  

© 

The Gujarat Government Gazette 
EXTRAORDINARY 

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY 

Vol. LXIV ]    FRIDAY,  MARCH  3,  2023 / PHALGUNA  12,  1944 

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a Separate Compilation. 

 
PART IV 

 

Acts of Gujarat Legislature and Ordinances promulgated and Regulations 

made by the Governor. 

 

 

 The following Act of the Gujarat Legislature, having been assented to by the 

Governor on the 2nd March, 2023 is hereby published for general information. 

K. M. LALA, 

Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, 

Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department. 

GUJARAT ACT NO. 4 OF 2023. 

 (First published, after having received the assent of the Governor, in the "Gujarat 

Government Gazette", on the 3rd March, 2023). 

AN ACT 

to provide and ensure teaching and learning of Gujarati as one of the  

languages in all Schools in the State of Gujarat. 

 

WHEREAS a policy decision has been taken by the Government of Gujarat to ensure that all 

students studying in the school imparting elementary education in the State shall learn Gujarati 

as one of the languages in a phased manner from the academic year 2023-24. 

 

 It is hereby enacted in the Seventy-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 



4-2 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX. 03-03-2023 [ PART  IV 

Short title and 

commencement. 

Definitions. 

1. (1) This Act may be called the Gujarat Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Gujarati 

Language Act, 2023. 

 (2)  It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, in the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, 

(a) “Academic year” means the academic year commencing as per concerned 

Board; 

(b) Competent authority” means the competent authority appointed by the 

Government  under section 4; 

(c)    “elementary education” means the education from first class to eighth class as 

defined in clause (f) of section 2 of the Right of Children to Free and 

Compulsory Education Act, 2009; 

(d)    “Government” means the State Government; 

(e)   “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules; 

(f)   “School” means, 

(i) any school imparting any class of elementary education, established 

and maintained by the Government or Local Bodies; or 

(ii) any school imparting any class of elementary education, established 

and administered or maintained by any private educational agency 

including minority school established and administered under clause 

(1) of article 30 of the Constitution of India, whether receiving aid out 

of the State fund or not; or 

(iii) such other Schools which are running in the State of Gujarat and have 

affiliation with any Board; 

(g) “State” means the State of Gujarat; 

3. (1)  Gujarati language shall be taught as a compulsory language in all schools in the 

State as an additional language, in the phased manner, as may be required. 

(2)   In those Schools which are not teaching Gujarati as a language, shall introduce 

Gujarati as an additional language, from the first standard from the academic year 

2023-24 and extend up to eighth standard in the phased manner. 

(3)   Every School shall follow textbooks prescribed by the Government for teaching 

Gujarati as an additional language. 

4. (1)  The Government may appoint, by notification, in the Official Gazette, any officer of the 

Education Department not below the rank of Deputy Director in the office of the 

Directorate of Primary Education, Government of Gujarat to be the Competent 

Authority for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act and the rules made 

there under and different competent authorities may be appointed for different areas. 

(2)  The Competent Authority shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as 

may be prescribed. 

5. The competent authority appointed under Section 4 shall be deemed to be public servant 

within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 

 

6. (1) In case of students with domicile outside Gujarat, who are studying in School of 

Gujarat, exemption may be granted, from all or any of the provisions of this Act. 

Such exemption may be granted by the concerned School where the student is 

enrolled, on written request of student’s parent/guardian with valid reasons.   

Gujarati as a 

compulsory 

language. 

Competent 

Authority. 

Competent 

Authority to be 

Public Servant. 

Exemption 

by school. 

45 of 1860 

35 of 2009. 



 PART  IV ] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX. 03-03-2023 4-3 

Penalty. 

Overriding 

effect. 

Protection of 

action taken 

in good faith. 

Power to 

make Rules. 

(2) The list of such students along with requisite details shall be intimated to the 

concerned District Education Officer / District Primary Education Officer as and 

when such decision has been taken by the School. 

7. The Education Department, Government of Gujarat may, subject to such conditions, as it 

may deem fit by general or special order, to be published in the Official Gazette other 

than the provisions of Section 6 of this Act, exempt any School or category of students 

from all or any of the provisions of this Act. 

8. (1) Any school, which contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made 

thereunder for a month for the first time, shall be liable for a penalty of rupees fifty 

thousand: 

 Provided that if such a school contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules 

made thereunder for a month for the second time, then it shall be liable for a penalty 

of rupees one lakh: 

 Provided further that if such a school contravenes the provisions of this Act or 

the rules made thereunder for a month for the third time and thereafter, then it shall 

be liable for a penalty of rupees two lakh. 

(2)  The competent authority shall be competent to impose penalty under sub-section (1). 

(3)  Where the Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient to do so, it 

may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, suitably enhance or reduce any of the 

penalty as specified in sub-section (1). 

(4)  If any School continues to make contraventions of the provisions of this Act or the 

rules made thereunder beyond a period of one year, the Government may, direct the 

Board or institution, as the case may be, to disaffiliate the School, to which such a 

School is affiliated. 

(5)  No penalty as provided under sub-section (1) shall be imposed, unless the School 

concerned is given an opportunity of being heard. 

(6)  An officer not below the rank of Deputy Director of the office of Directorate of 

Primary Education, Government of Gujarat may recover such penalty in such a 

manner, as may be prescribed. 

9. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of this Act, or the rules made 

thereunder, shall have effect, notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained 

in any other law enacted by the Gujarat State Legislature.  

10. (1) The Government may, in the public interest, by order, direct the competent authority 

to make an enquiry or to take appropriate proceedings under this Act in any case 

specified in the Order and the competent authority shall report to the Government the 

result of the enquiry made or the proceedings taken by him within such period as may 

be prescribed. 

(2) On receipt of the report from the competent authority under sub-section (1), the 

Government shall give such direction as it deems fit and such direction shall be final 

and binding. 

11. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the competent authority, 

Government or its officers for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be 

done under this Act or any rule or order made there under. 

12. (1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, after previous 

publication, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

Exemption by 

Government. 

Power of 

Government 

to give 

directions. 



Government Central Press, Gandhinagar.

4-4 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX. 03-03-2023 [ PART  IV 

Power to 

remove 

difficulties. 

(2) All rules made under this section shall be laid for not less than thirty days before the 

State Legislature as soon as may be they are made, and shall be subject to rescission by 

the State Legislature or to such modification as the State Legislature may make, during 

the session in which they are so laid or the session immediately following. 

(3) Any rescission or modification so made by the State Legislature shall be published in 

the Official Gazette, and shall thereupon take effect. 

13. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government 

may, within a period of two years from the commencement of this Act, by an order 

published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the 

provisions of this Act, as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removal of 

difficulty. 

(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, 

before the House of the State Legislature. 

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		BHOLUSINGH G THAKUR
	2023-03-06T15:31:32+0530