Overview
- The School Education Department, which issued a new Government Resolution on Friday, set fines up to ₹1 lakh and possible derecognition to enforce a 2020 law that makes Marathi compulsory in Classes 1–10.
- Inspectors must visit each school within two months of the academic year, issue a show‑cause notice for violations, and require a response within 15 days.
- School managements can appeal penalties to the Director of Education within 30 days, with the Education Commissioner taking the final call on derecognition after a hearing within about three months.
- Divisional deputy directors will form inspection teams that include a Marathi language expert and senior education officers, and local offices must also create grievance channels for parents.
- Officials flagged poor compliance in many central‑board English‑medium schools in cities like Mumbai, Thane and Pune, and advocates now want Marathi defined as a first, second or third language with a 100‑mark board paper to ensure rigor.