Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar committed to reviewing the controversial Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 , on Wednesday. This commitment followed a meeting with the Karnataka Border Areas Development Authority (KBADA). The KBADA argues the bill severely impacts Kannada-speaking linguistic minorities in Kasaragod district.
Governor Assures Comprehensive Review
Governor Arlekar met a delegation from the KBADA recently in Bengaluru. The delegation submitted a memorandum, formally requesting the Governor to stall and reconsider the proposed legislation. The Governor provided an assurance that the bill would undergo a thorough review process. He specifically committed to safeguarding the educational and linguistic interests of Kannadigas residing in Kasaragod.
Mandatory Malayalam Instruction Proposed
The contested Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, seeks to mandate Malayalam as the primary instructional language. Under its provisions, all students from Classes 1 to 10 must study Malayalam as their first language. This mandate targets both government and private Kannada-medium schools operating within Kasaragod district.
KBADA Declares Bill Unconstitutional
The KBADA has publicly denounced the bill, labeling it “wholly unconstitutional.” In a press release, the authority stated the bill directly opposes the interests of the significant Kannada-speaking linguistic minority population in Kasaragod, Kerala. This community has a long-standing presence in the region.
The authority highlighted a critical precedent. A similar language bill proposed by Kerala was previously rejected by the President of India in 2017. Furthermore, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has consistently advised the Kerala government to uphold and protect the rights and interests of its linguistic minorities.
Constitutional Protections Under Threat
KBADA points to several articles of the Indian Constitution, asserting their violation by the proposed bill. These include Articles 30, 347, 350, 350A, and 350B . These articles provide specific safeguards for linguistic minorities, ensuring their right to preserve their language, script, and culture, and to receive primary education in their mother tongue.
Existing constitutional provisions, according to KBADA, mandate specific measures to support linguistic minorities. These include the appointment of Kannada teachers in Kannada-medium schools. They also require the installation of Kannada signboards at key public locations like police stations, railway stations, and national highways within Kasaragod. Additionally, Kannada should be used in official correspondence in public offices, and recruitment practices should reflect the local linguistic-minority population proportionally.
Bill Poses Educational Disruption for Students
Enforcing the Malayalam Language Bill would compel thousands of Kannada-speaking students to learn Malayalam. Many of these students are not familiar with the language, creating a significant educational barrier. This forced linguistic shift would severely affect their academic performance and overall educational development.
The KBADA warns of long-term adverse consequences for students’ future prospects. This includes challenges in pursuing higher studies outside Kerala, where their primary education in Malayalam might not align with their chosen fields or university requirements. The move would fundamentally impact students whose mother tongue and primary medium of instruction has been Kannada.
KBADA Delegation Presents Demands
The delegation that met Governor Arlekar included key officials and community leaders. Among them were KBADA Secretary Prakash V Mattihalli and member Subbaiahkatte. Also present were Tekkekere Shankaranarayana Bhat and Jayaprakash Narayana Tottetodu, who serves as President of Kerala Kasapa. Advocate Muralidhara Ballukarya and Sukesh A, President of the Kerala State Teachers’ Association, also joined. Several other Kannadigas from Kasaragod participated, representing the affected community.
Beyond the bill’s reconsideration, KBADA also put forth additional demands. They requested that the Kasaragod district collector’s committee hold regular bi-monthly meetings. These meetings would focus on addressing the ongoing issues and concerns faced by linguistic minorities in the district.