The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has firmly supported its choice to conduct the entrance examination for its Urdu Journalism programme exclusively in the Urdu script. This stance was presented to the Delhi High Court, where IIMC asserted that it possesses the academic authority to set examination standards without being influenced by historical traditions or industry practices.

This legal discourse emerged following IIMC’s alteration of its admission announcement for the Urdu Journalism course, which mandated Urdu script for the entrance exam. This modification faced legal challenge from Upasana Kumari, a graduate from Jharkhand, and other petitioners who claimed that Urdu has been acknowledged and studied in both the Urdu and Devanagari scripts throughout history.

In a detailed affidavit submitted to the court, IIMC rejected the idea that Urdu could be written in Devanagari for the purpose of its entrance examination. The institution stressed that if previous traditions or opinions from prominent figures cannot override its decisions, then its academic autonomy must prevail.

Contention Over Admission Notifications

The dispute traces back to advertisements posted by IIMC regarding admissions for the current academic year. An advertisement dated 27 May 2026 indicated that the entrance exam could be conducted in both Urdu and Devanagari. This led to a number of students who were unfamiliar with the Urdu script reportedly applying for the course.

However, IIMC later withdrew this advertisement and issued a revised notification, stating that the entrance examination would solely employ the Urdu script. The institute clarified that the earlier reference to Devanagari was due to an administrative error that was corrected promptly.

The petitioners have expressed doubt about this explanation, contending that prior notifications for the Urdu Journalism programme never mandated Urdu script and that such a requirement had not received formal approval from the institute’s Academic Council or Executive Council. They further maintained that students had historically been permitted to use Devanagari for various academic activities.

Comparisons with Other Institutions and Legal Arguments

IIMC also addressed comparisons drawn by the petitioners with other institutions. The petitioners cited the MA Film Making (Urdu) programme at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), where examinations are conducted in Urdu, Hindi, and English scripts. In response, IIMC argued that the programme structures are fundamentally different and therefore not directly comparable.

Additionally, the affidavit included a counter to claims that the existence of Urdu publications in Devanagari necessitates IIMC to adopt a similar policy. The institute stated that popular platforms or the practices of publishers do not dictate the examination format needed for its specific programme.

IIMC addressed constitutional arguments made by the petitioners, indicating that while Urdu is listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, it does not grant the right to compel the institute to conduct the entrance examination in Devanagari. Furthermore, IIMC indicated that regulations concerning the official languages and the National Education Policy do not mandate changes to their admission procedures.

In its request to the court, IIMC sought to dismiss the petition, requesting the recovery of litigation costs from the petitioners and urging against any interim relief that might alter the revised examination pattern. This case highlights ongoing discussions regarding language and script within educational access, with the court set to consider whether IIMC’s decision is justifiable under academic autonomy or if the petitioners’ concerns warrant legal intervention.

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