Part XVII: Official Language

Article 349: Special Procedure for Language Laws

Original Article:

During the period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, no Bill or amendment making provision for the language to be used for any of the purposes mentioned in clause (1) of article 348 shall be introduced or moved in either House of Parliament without the previous sanction of the President, and the President shall not give his sanction to the introduction of any such Bill or the moving of any such amendment except after he has taken into consideration the recommendations of the Commission constituted under clause (1) of article 344 and the report of the Committee constituted under clause (4) of that article.

Explanations:

Article 349 establishes a special procedure for enacting laws related to language use during the first fifteen years of the Constitution's implementation. It mandates Presidential oversight and adherence to recommendations from linguistic commissions and committees.

Clause-by-Clause Explanation:

Fifteen-Year Restriction on Language Laws

For fifteen years after the Constitution's commencement (1950-1965), any Bill or amendment related to the language of judicial and legislative documents required the President's prior approval before being introduced in Parliament.

Presidential Sanction Based on Recommendations

The President's approval is contingent upon recommendations from the Commission and Committee constituted under Article 344. This ensures that language policies are crafted with expert advice and national interests in mind.

Historical Context:

This provision was included to ensure that changes to language policy during the initial years of the Republic would be carefully considered, balancing regional diversity with national unity.

Real-Life Applications:

Language Policy Stability: Article 349 helped maintain linguistic harmony during India's early years by preventing sudden or unilateral changes to language laws.