The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the rule that made Urdu knowledge mandatory for Naib Tehsildar posts in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision brings relief to many aspirants across the region.
A bench of CAT members Ram Mohan Johri and Rajinder Singh Dogra said the Urdu-only requirement seemed “discriminatory,” especially after the 2020 law that gave official status to five languages—Urdu, Hindi, English, Dogri, and Kashmiri.
The rule was challenged by candidates represented by Senior Advocate Abhinav Sharma, who argued that the 2009 recruitment rule violated the right to equality. They also opposed the latest recruitment advertisement (Notification No. 05 of 2025), which insisted on Urdu knowledge.
The tribunal directed the Services Selection Board to accept applications from candidates familiar with any of the five official languages and asked the General Administration Department to respond within four weeks. The next hearing is set for August 13.
