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Iltija Mufti protests removal of Urdu from job recruitment eligibility rules, slams NC govt
PDP leader Iltija Mufti led a protest in Srinagar against a proposed change to Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Service Recruitment Rules that would remove Urdu as an eligibility criterion. She accused the NC government of sidelining Urdu and called for accountability, while police blocked the protest march. The piece places the protest in the broader history of Urdu's status in J&K.
Why It Matters
The event highlights language rights and representation in government recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir, and reflects political tensions between PDP and NC over Urdu's status.
Timeline
5 Events
Iltija Mufti protests Urdu eligibility removal outside PDP HQ (April 28, 2026)
April 28, 2026
PDP leader Iltija Mufti staged a protest outside the PDP headquarters in Srinagar against the proposed removal of Urdu as an eligibility criterion. Her march was halted by police; she accused the NC government of neglecting duties and of 'doing BJP's bidding' while pledging to resist the move.
Revenue department issues draft recruitment rules omitting Urdu (April 10, 2026)
April 10, 2026
The revenue department issued a draft of J&K Revenue Service Recruitment Rules for non-gazetted posts, inviting objections within 15 days. The draft stated the minimum qualification for direct recruitment as graduation from any university, omitting knowledge of Urdu.
Urdu loses status as sole official language (Sept 2020)
September 2020
Urdu's 131-year status as the sole official language ended when the central government enacted the J&K Official Languages Bill, declaring Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri and English as official languages of the Union Territory.
Urdu replaced Persian as court language in 1989
1989
In 1989, Urdu replaced Persian as the court language in Jammu and Kashmir.
Urdu retained as official language after 1947
1947
After 1947, the J&K Constituent Assembly retained Urdu as the state's official language.