Leh, Sep 10: The Ladakh administration on Thursday said the sub-committee engaged in discussions with stakeholders has reached an agreement on direct elections for the proposed Union Territory-level body, while several other issues concerning constitutional safeguards, recruitment, land rights and administrative reforms were also discussed.
Briefing Media Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra said the meeting began with discussions on the proposed UT-level body and the applicability of Article 371 of the Constitution. He said that, as decided during the previous meeting held on July 3, the UT-level body would be sought under Article 371.
A key point of discussion was whether representatives to the proposed body should be elected directly or indirectly through the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs). According to the Chief Secretary, leaders representing the Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) agreed that elections to constituencies of the UT-level body should be held directly.
He said the broader democratic dialogue was aimed at addressing the aspirations of people seeking safeguards for land, culture, heritage, mineral resources, environment and employment. On employment, he said a reservation mechanism had already been provided for Ladakh, which he described as unique.
The administration also sought views from political leaders on the proposed political architecture of Ladakh, particularly the relationship between panchayats, LAHDCs and the proposed UT-level body. Around eight to ten questions concerning distribution of powers and jurisdiction were shared with the stakeholders.
The leaders were asked to consult people and return with their views before the next meeting, scheduled for October. The administration said the objective was to reach an understanding on basic principles before preparing a draft document.
The Chief Secretary stressed that the process involved a constitutional amendment and not merely an ordinary law. He said a constitutional amendment requires parliamentary approval and a two-thirds majority, making political consensus important. Detailed legislation and regulations would follow the constitutional process.
He said the government did not want to impose a model that was unacceptable to the people of Ladakh, urging stakeholders to be patient while consultations were underway.
On employment, the administration said the Home Ministry had enabled recruitment to 89 posts across 15 departments under the Ladakh Administration’s service structure.
The Chief Secretary further said the Home Ministry had agreed in principle to the formation of the Ladakh Administrative Service and Ladakh Police Service, with modalities to be worked out soon.
Regarding cases linked to the September 24 incident last year, he said cases proposed for withdrawal and compensation-related demands would be forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor for consideration.
On the contentious Nautaud land issue, the administration clarified that a draft rule had been prepared as part of a consultation process. It said the objective was to convert leasehold tenancy rights into ownership rights, with regularisation to be carried out by the elected Autonomous District Councils.
The administration also proposed that land belonging to religious, cultural and monastic institutions be given title free of cost. It said small landholders may also be protected from financial burden, with no charge proposed for holdings up to one acre and a graded formula thereafter.
The Chief Secretary said the land-use framework would allow owners, after securing ownership rights, to seek conversion of agricultural land for activities such as shops or resorts. He said the measures could help people monetise land and access institutional finance.
On recruitment, the administration said 1,340 candidates had been recommended for appointment in different categories during 2026, while 633 posts had already been advertised and another 874 posts were expected to be advertised. The recruitment cycle includes police vacancies, including constable and sub-inspector posts.
