MUMBAI: Starting November 28, the BMC has said it will begin taking action against those shops across Mumbai that have still not displayed their nameplates in the Marathi Devanagari script.
The civic body has formed a team of officers from the shops and establishment department in each of its 24 wards who have been authorised to take action against such shops.
This civic order comes after the state cabinet in January 2022 approved amendment to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, so that those with even fewer than 10 workers display Marathi nameplates. “Those establishments failing to display Marathi nameplates in bold Devanagari script, in accordance with legal provision and the directives of the court, will face legal repercussions. Owners of non-compliant shops and establishments will be subject to legal action,” said the BMC in a statement. A senior BMC official said a fine of Rs 2,000 will be levied per person working in such an establishment by prosecuting the proprietor in court.
The BMC had issued a notice to all shops and establishments in Mumbai city and suburbs to display nameplates in Marathi by May 31, 2022. The also directed that the nameplates should start with Marathi script and the lettering should not be in a smaller font than any other language on the display board.
Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), said there is no opposition to the directive. However, the concern revolved around the logistical challenges associated with ensuring that the Marathi name prominently stands out on the board.
The civic body has formed a team of officers from the shops and establishment department in each of its 24 wards who have been authorised to take action against such shops.
This civic order comes after the state cabinet in January 2022 approved amendment to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, so that those with even fewer than 10 workers display Marathi nameplates. “Those establishments failing to display Marathi nameplates in bold Devanagari script, in accordance with legal provision and the directives of the court, will face legal repercussions. Owners of non-compliant shops and establishments will be subject to legal action,” said the BMC in a statement. A senior BMC official said a fine of Rs 2,000 will be levied per person working in such an establishment by prosecuting the proprietor in court.
The BMC had issued a notice to all shops and establishments in Mumbai city and suburbs to display nameplates in Marathi by May 31, 2022. The also directed that the nameplates should start with Marathi script and the lettering should not be in a smaller font than any other language on the display board.
Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), said there is no opposition to the directive. However, the concern revolved around the logistical challenges associated with ensuring that the Marathi name prominently stands out on the board.