CAT Jammu Stays Mandatory Urdu Qualification for Naib Tehsildar Posts, Allows Applicants with Other Official Languages

SRINAGAR: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Jammu has stayed a provision of the Jammu and Kashmir Revenue (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules, 2009, which mandates graduation with knowledge of Urdu as the minimum qualification for the post of Naib Tehsildar. The tribunal directed that candidates proficient in any of the official languages recognised under the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020—Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Dogri and Urdu—will now be eligible to apply for the posts.

The order came on a petition filed by multiple applicants led by Rajesh Singh, challenging the Urdu-only requirement as discriminatory and violative of constitutional equality. The petitioners also contested advertisement notification No. 05 of 2025, issued on 9 June 2025, which again restricted eligibility to graduates with knowledge of Urdu, thereby excluding those proficient in other recognised official languages.

Senior advocate Abhinav Sharma, appearing for the applicants, argued that the restriction was arbitrary and violated the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, which accords equal status to five languages. He contended that the recruitment rule unfairly disqualified otherwise eligible candidates and curtailed their employment opportunities solely based on linguistic preference.

After hearing the arguments, the tribunal, comprising Member (Administrative) Ram Mohan Johri and Member (Judicial) Rajinder Singh Dogra, observed that making Urdu the exclusive qualifying language prima facie appeared discriminatory, especially when the 2020 Official Languages Act recognises multiple languages for official use in the Union Territory.

The tribunal directed the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) to accept applications for the post of Naib Tehsildar from candidates with knowledge of any of the five official languages. It also issued notices to the General Administrative Department and other respondents, who have been given four weeks to file their replies.

The matter has been listed for the next hearing on 13 August 2025. Advocates Rajesh Thapa and Sudesh Magotra, Additional Advocates General, along with Deputy Advocate General Hunar Gupta, appeared on behalf of the respondents and accepted notice.

The interim relief ensures that candidates with knowledge of Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri or English will not be disqualified from the recruitment process for Naib Tehsildar posts in Jammu and Kashmir.