Bengaluru/IBNS/UNI: The Karnataka High Court has passed an interim order directing the state government to refrain from sealing any shop or commercial establishment for non-compliance with the 60 percent Kannada signage rule.

Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the order in response to petitions by the Retailers Association of India challenging Section 17(6) of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022 and a February 2024 circular enforcing the 60 percent Kannada signage rule.

The court found a part of the February 2024 circular, which called for sealing shops not complying with the Kannada signage mandate, to be untenable. As a result, the court stayed the operation of this part of the circular.

The Advocate General assured the court that the state does not intend to shut down businesses to enforce the 60 percent Kannada rule.

The court noted the practical difficulties faced by business owners in complying with the signage rule within the state's deadline.

There were also concerns about the definition of a signboard and ambiguity regarding the date the mandate would come into force.

The matter will be heard again on March 22.

Advocate Manu Kulkarni represented the petitioners, led by the Retailers Association of India, in this case.