Jammu, Jun 11: The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, has written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressing concern over the decision to make Urdu compulsory for Naib Tehsildar recruitment, calling it an “injustice to the people of Jammu”.
In the letter, a copy of which is available with Rising Kashmir, Sharma states that mandating Urdu in the recruitment process is a “gross injustice” to the Jammu region. “This move could promote regional imbalance and foster linguistic and administrative discrimination against Jammu residents,” he said.
On June 9, 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) issued a notification for the recruitment of 75 Naib Tehsildars, with Urdu designated as a compulsory subject. Sharma said this decision might exacerbate regional disparities and discrimination.
The senior BJP leader said that the adverse effects of making Urdu mandatory have become evident recently. He urged the authorities to rescind this order immediately.
“In Jammu, languages like Hindi and Dogri are primarily spoken and taught in schools and colleges, whereas Urdu remains an optional subject,” the LoP said. “Therefore, enforcing Urdu as a compulsory language in Naib Tehsildar recruitment would be a gross injustice to the people of Jammu.”
