MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced its plan to take action against shops across Mumbai that have yet to display their nameplates in the Marathi Devanagari script, starting November 28.

The civic body has established a team of officers from the shops and establishment department in each of its 24 wards, empowering them to address non-compliance issues in these shops.

This directive follows the state cabinet’s approval in January 2022 of amendments to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. This revision mandates that even establishments with fewer than 10 workers showcase Marathi nameplates.

“Non-compliant establishments failing to prominently display Marathi nameplates in bold Devanagari script, as mandated by law and court directives, will face legal consequences. Owners of such non-compliant shops and establishments will be subject to legal action,” stated the BMC in an official statement.

A senior BMC official added that a fine of Rs 2,000 per person employed within such establishments will be imposed by initiating legal proceedings against the proprietor.

Earlier, the BMC had issued a notice to all shops and establishments within Mumbai and its suburbs to exhibit nameplates in Marathi by May 31, 2022. The guidelines specified that the nameplates should lead with the Marathi script, ensuring it is not in a smaller font compared to any other language displayed on the board.

Viren Shah, President of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), expressed no opposition to the directive. However, concerns were raised regarding the logistical challenges involved in ensuring that the Marathi name stands out prominently on the display board.

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