PIL 27/2007 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI. THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE HRISHIKESH ROY Ranjan Gogoi, J. Heard Mr. M. Nath, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Rajesh Adhikari, l earned Govt. Advocate, Assam. This PIL has been filed, essentially, seeking a direction from the Court for imp lementation of the provisions of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960, particul arly in the districts of Brahmaputra Valley of the State of Assam. Pursuant to our order dated 2.7.2009 an affidavit has been filed by the Commissi oner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Home and Political Department, st ating the details of the measures adopted, till date, for due implementation of the provisions of the aforesaid Act. We have read and perused the affidavit filed by the departmental Commissioner an d Secretary and have taken note of the statements made therein. It appears that a large number of legislations, Rules and Regulations relating to conduct of gov ernmental business has been translated in Assamese. Furthermore, it appears that revenue records in the Brahmaputra Valley are being maintained in Assamese and in Bengali in Barak Valley. That apart, official correspondences, to the extent possible, is being carried out in the official languages in the Brahmaputra Vall ey and Barak Valley and Government advertisements in the newspapers are also iss ued in the languages contemplated under the Act. In the affidavit filed it has b een stated that Assam is a State with diverse population and heterogeneous cult ure. Instructions have been issued to all departments to comply with the provisi ons of the Act, as the Government is aware of its responsibility. However, the u se of official languages solely in place of English at all levels including Crim inal Courts upto the Courts of Sessions may take some time in view of what is st ated above. In view of the above facts stated in the affidavit filed by the departmental Com missioner and Secretary we are of the view that steps have been taken by the aut horities of the State to implement the provisions of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960. We, therefore, decline to pass any further order in this PIL save an d except to reiterate that as long as the legislation continues to remain in the Statute Book the same will necessarily have to be implemented in the right earn est. The PIL, consequently, shall stand disposed of in the above terms.