The decision by the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) to mandate Urdu as a qualifying subject for the recruitment of Naib Tehsildars (revenue officials) has triggered a political storm, particularly in the Jammu region. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has voiced strong opposition to the requirement, leading to calls for its removal and sparking a wider debate about linguistic policy, cultural identity, and equal opportunity within the Union Territory.
The JKSSB's notification on June 9, 2025, outlining the recruitment process for 75 Naib Tehsildar positions, designated Urdu language proficiency as compulsory for qualification. This move has been met with protests and strong criticism, primarily from Jammu-based aspirants who are more conversant in Hindi, Dogri, or Punjabi. These groups argue that the Urdu requirement creates an unfair disadvantage for candidates from the Jammu division, potentially depriving them of employment opportunities.
Leading the charge against the mandate, J&K BJP leaders, including President Sat Sharma and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to advocate for the removal of Urdu as a mandatory criterion. They emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir recognizes five official languages – Hindi, English, Kashmiri, Dogri, and Urdu – and that making knowledge of one language compulsory violates the constitutional principles of equal opportunity and administrative impartiality. They also requested that all government documents and procedural information be made available in all five official languages. Former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta echoed these concerns, calling for an immediate review to ensure a level playing field for all candidates, irrespective of their linguistic background.
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have also staged protests, denouncing the provision as discriminatory and biased against non-Urdu speakers. Critics argue that the mandatory Urdu requirement is a deliberate attempt to exclude deserving candidates from Jammu and marginalize the region's diverse linguistic heritage.
Conversely, the potential removal of Urdu has drawn criticism from other political factions and cultural observers who view the language as an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir's identity. They argue that Urdu serves as a linguistic bridge connecting different regions and communities within the Union Territory and that undermining it would be a cultural rupture. Some view the BJP's opposition as part of a broader effort to dilute the region's distinct cultural identity.
Urdu has historically held significant status in Jammu and Kashmir, serving as the official language since 1889. While the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act of 2020 added Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, and English as official languages, Urdu remains an important language in administration, law, and literature.
The current controversy is not the first instance of contention surrounding the Urdu language requirement in Naib Tehsildar recruitment. In November 2022, the J&K administration decided to make Urdu non-mandatory, a decision that was met with disappointment from the J&K Urdu Coordination Committee, Kashmir wing.
As the debate continues, the Lieutenant Governor's office is under pressure to address the concerns raised by various stakeholders and strike a balance that ensures fairness, inclusivity, and the preservation of Jammu and Kashmir's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
