Aspirants call move discriminatory; demand alternative language options
Sarvjeet Singh
Srinagar/Jammu, (DD): Protests have broken out across Jammu and Kashmir after the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) re-notified recruitment rules mandating Urdu language proficiency as a compulsory qualification for the post of Naib Tehsildar.
The move has triggered outrage among civil service aspirants, particularly in non-Urdu speaking regions of the Union Territory, who argue that the requirement excludes a large number of qualified candidates who have not studied Urdu in school or college.
“We are not against Urdu, but making it mandatory is unjust. It’s not the first or second language for many of us,” said Pooja Sharma, an aspirant from Kathua.
Demonstrations were reported in Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, and parts of Kashmir, where students and job seekers raised slogans and carried placards demanding the removal of the Urdu clause. Many also staged silent sit-ins outside district headquarters and JKSSB offices.
“This decision is discriminatory. Why should our language background decide our future in public service?” asked Adil Rather, an aspirant from Ganderbal.
Aspirants are demanding either a rollback of the Urdu language condition or the introduction of alternative language options, such as Hindi or English, or basic language training after recruitment. They have also called for a common eligibility framework that ensures equal access to government jobs regardless of regional or linguistic background.
The issue has sparked a storm online, with hashtags like #SayNoToUrduImposition, #EqualJobsForAll, and #JKSSBReform trending on X (formerly Twitter).
“This is about equality. You can’t impose a language in a multilingual region and shut the door on lakhs of youth,” said Zoya Qureshi, a protestor in Srinagar.
Political Voices Join the Chorus
Political and student organisations have begun lending support to the protestors. Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari, in a statement, said the rule was “unjust and exclusionary”, calling on the administration to ensure linguistic diversity is respected in public recruitment.
Leaders from People’s Conference, DSSP, and other regional outfits have echoed similar views, stating that language should not become a barrier to employment in a region as diverse as Jammu and Kashmir.
As the protests continue to gain momentum, aspirants are planning a joint march in Jammu next week to press for their demands. For now, uncertainty looms large over the future of thousands of candidates eyeing the Naib Tehsildar posts.(DD)
