CAT stays mandatory Urdu clause for Naib Tehsildar posts

SRINAGAR — The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Monday stayed the enforcement of a key provision in the Jammu & Kashmir Revenue (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules, which required candidates to possess a graduation with knowledge of Urdu as the exclusive language qualification for the post of Naib Tehsildar.

The tribunal’s interim order came in response to a petition challenging the language requirement.

In its order, as per the news agency KNO, the CAT directed the Jammu & Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) to accept applications from candidates who possess a graduation with knowledge of any of the five official languages listed under the 2020 Act—Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Dogri, and Urdu.

The Tribunal has also issued a notice to the respondents, directing them to file their reply within four weeks in response to the plea challenging the mandatory Urdu qualification for NT posts.