CAT Stays J&K Government Order Making Urdu Mandatory For Naib Tehsildar Post, Allows All Official Languages

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the Jammu & Kashmir government's 9 June order that required Urdu proficiency for Naib Tehsildar applicants, reported The Indian Express.

Acting on a petition from job aspirants challenging the condition, the CAT directed the JK Services Selection Recruitment Board (JKSSRB) to applications from candidates who possess a graduation with knowledge of any of the five official UT languages—Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Dogri, or Urdu—under the Jammu & Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020.

A two‑member bench of the CAT, chaired by Judicial Member Rajinder Dogra and Administrative Member Ram Mohan Johri, called the restriction “prima facie discriminatory” and issued notices to the respondents, setting the next hearing for 13 August.

The BJP has welcomed the CAT’s ruling, describing the Urdu mandate as “illegal and discriminatory”.

Advocate R S Pathania, a senior BJP MLA, told reporters, “We welcome the decision of the CAT to stay this illegal and discriminatory order of the National Conference government. It is our victory.”

He added, "All candidates can now file their applications for the post of Naib Tehsildars. There is no discrimination on the basis of language.“

BJP legislators had previously staged a dharna outside the Civil Secretariat and Assembly Complex in Jammu to demand the revocation of the Urdu‑only requirement.

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