Ladakh’s Constitutional Talks Enter Crucial Phase; MHA Asks LAB & KDA to Build Consensus on Unresolved Issues
Kundra said on Thursday the Centre has already begun preliminary work on the framework and wants Ladakh’s leadership to submit its responses quickly so drafting can begin. He emphasised that no governance model will be imposed and that agreement on core principles must precede legal drafting
SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to build consensus on 8–10 unresolved issues before the Centre drafts a special constitutional framework for Ladakh under Article 371.
According to Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, discussions in New Delhi on Wednesday have progressed toward creating a Union Territory ‑level elected body with direct elections, positioned above Panchayats and the Hill Development Councils. However, key questions remain—especially the division of powers between Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) and the proposed institution, and the subjects each body will control.
Kundra said on Thursday the Centre has already begun preliminary work on the framework and wants Ladakh’s leadership to submit its responses quickly so drafting can begin. He emphasised that no governance model will be imposed and that agreement on core principles must precede legal drafting. The proposed arrangement aims to safeguard Ladakh’s land, culture, heritage, environment, mineral resources and jobs, with Article 371 seen as offering stronger, more durable protections than the Sixth Schedule. He clarified that the new body will not mean statehood but a sui generis model with legislative, executive and financial powers.
The Chief Secretary also briefed the media on administrative reforms, noting that the MHA has enabled recruitment for 79 State Service feeder posts under the new Ladakh Reservation Rules, 2025. Modalities for the Ladakh Administrative Service and Ladakh Police Service are being finalised, while large‑scale recruitment across departments continues. He added that cases related to the September 24, 2025 incidents in Leh are being reviewed for withdrawal, with compensation proposals under consideration.
On land issues, Kundra clarified that the draft Nautor land rules do not involve monetisation and focus instead on resolving long‑pending tenancy and regularisation matters, with final authority resting with the Hill Councils. Provisions for monastery and religious institution land are also being examined.
The Ladakh leadership had last week announced the postponement of the Kargil–Leh Peace and Justice Padyatra to allow space for the September 9 talks, though organisers insisted the agitation will resume if the Centre delays progress. Recent political signalling from Union ministers, including commitments to Article 371 protections and an upcoming visit by the Prime Minister, has raised expectations. LAB and KDA have submitted a detailed charter of non‑negotiable demands, including constitutional safeguards, restoration of a legislature, and withdrawal of all September 24 cases. Partial relief has already been granted with withdrawal of 25 cases.
The LAB and KDA have been demanding full-fledged statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguards for it under the 6th Scheduled, setting up a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh with job security and early recruitments and creation of separate Lok Sabha constituencies for the twin districts of Leh and Kargil.
At present, Ladakh is the only Lok Sabha constituency of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the largest such constituency in the country in terms of area (173,266 sq. km). The 6th Schedule of the Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram to safeguard the rights of the tribal population in these states under Article 244(2) and Article 275(1).
On August 19, LAB and KDA jointly submitted a detailed charter of “non‑negotiable” demands, reiterating their insistence on constitutional safeguards and the restoration of a democratically elected legislature for Ladakh.
