Bhubaneswar, Sept 23 : The Odisha government has initiated legal action against 100 business establishment owners across the state for failing to comply with mandatory rules that require signboards to be displayed in Odia. The action is based on violations of the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, which mandates the use of the Odia language on commercial signage to preserve and promote the state’s linguistic identity.
This was disclosed by Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia during a session of the Odisha Assembly today. Responding to a question from MLA Prasanna Acharya, the Minister revealed that Khurda district recorded the highest number of legal cases, with 38 establishment facing formal action. Additionally, show cause notices have been issued to 237 establishments in Jharsuguda and 201 in Khurda for not adhering to the signage rule.
Since the start of the current financial year, a total of 2,852 business establishments have been inspected across Odisha. Of these, 1,606 were found to be non-compliant, prompting the issuance of official notices to the owners. The 100 cases that have moved to the legal stage indicate a serious enforcement drive by the state government to uphold the use of Odia in public and commercial spaces.
This move underscores the state’s broader commitment to linguistic preservation and cultural identity, with the government aiming to ensure that Odia remains visible and respected in both official and everyday commercial use.
