Mangaluru: The Commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation has issued a firm directive to business owners within city limits, mandating the use of at least 60% Kannada on their signboards, or risk having their business licenses revoked.
According to an official press release, the Corporation emphasized that under the state government’s language policy, all commercial entities, industries, businesses, trusts, consultation centers, hospitals, laboratories, entertainment venues, and hotels must prominently feature the Kannada language, comprising 60% of their signage.
The Corporation has made it clear that business licenses will be granted only to those enterprises that adhere to this rule by displaying Kannada prominently on their signboards. Compliance with this language policy will be rigorously checked during the renewal or issuance of new business licenses. While many businesses are complying with the government’s policy and using Kannada on their signboards, there have been numerous public complaints about some businesses continuing to prioritize English.
As a result, the Corporation has reinforced its requirement for all business owners within its jurisdiction to ensure Kannada is prominently displayed on their signboards. The Commissioner has warned that any business failing to comply with this rule will have its license revoked without prior notice.
