Mumbai Auto-Taxi Drivers Face Action Over Marathi Language Requirement

Mumbai auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who have not demonstrated the required knowledge of Marathi could face action as the Maharashtra government begins enforcing its language requirement from Tuesday. The government had earlier given drivers time to learn Marathi and complete a prescribed training programme. However, the expiry of that deadline does not mean that licences will be cancelled immediately, with authorities allowing drivers additional time to meet the requirement.

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said drivers who fail to demonstrate the required Marathi proficiency will first receive a 30-day notice to comply. If they continue to remain non-compliant after the notice period, their driving licence can be suspended for three months. Should a driver still fail to meet the requirement after the suspension, the licence can eventually be cancelled permanently. The three-stage process is intended to provide drivers with opportunities to comply before the strictest penalty is imposed.

Around 1.25 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who completed the government’s Marathi language course and obtained certificates have been given relief from such action. The training was conducted under the Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Course Campaign, which ran for 105 days. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the participating drivers learnt Marathi, appeared for the examination and received certificates after successfully completing the programme.

Also Read: Maharashtra Sets Marathi Language, Licence Rules For Auto And Taxi Drivers

Shinde said Marathi should be promoted through encouragement rather than fear and described it as a language of devotion rather than compulsion. He urged people to speak Marathi with those who are learning the language instead of ridiculing them. Sarnaik, meanwhile, adopted a firmer position on enforcement, saying that an attitude of refusing to speak Marathi would no longer be accepted. He also credited Shinde with providing the political impetus for the language-learning campaign.

The language requirement has particular significance in Mumbai and surrounding urban centres such as Thane and Navi Mumbai, which have large populations of people from different parts of India. Migrants from other states also form a substantial part of the city’s auto-rickshaw, taxi and transport workforce. The Maharashtra government has maintained that the initiative is aimed at encouraging people living and working in the state to learn Marathi rather than specifically targeting non-Marathi residents.

The enforcement therefore marks the next stage of the state’s Marathi-learning campaign, with drivers who have not yet complied facing a gradual process rather than immediate licence cancellation. Authorities have stressed that drivers will have further opportunities to demonstrate their language skills before suspension or permanent cancellation is considered. The issue remains significant for Mumbai’s transport sector because of the large number of drivers serving passengers across the city and the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the workforce.

Also Read: Fadnavis Says Maharashtra Will Consider Maratha Quota Within Constitutional Limits