Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court sought response from the BBMP’s on a petition challenging the civic body’s circular asking businesses to reserve 60% of space on their name boards for Kannada.

The Retailers Association of India challenged the BBMP(Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) order seeking all licensed retailers to ensure 60% of display in Kannada language on their name board in bold letters and 40% in other languages.However, the HC asked the association as to promote the Kannada language in educational institutions and not in commercial establishments.It also added that promoting languages cannot be done by keeping name boards as a medium.

The order had rules mentioned and had warned that retailers would lose their trade licences if they failed to abide by the norms. However, they asked the court to quash the order, saying it was illegal, arbitrary and against the provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976.

The court asked the BBMP to submit a reply on the sustainability of its order, and adjourned the case.