Leh, Oct 20: In a significant development, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, effective October 19, paving the way for the establishment of Hill Development Councils in all eight districts of Ladakh, including newly created Sankoo district.
The amendment follows the Union Cabinet’s approval on October 14 and the President’s promulgation of the regulation on October 16. According to the Lieutenant Governor, the process was completed within six days.
Adding to the series of developments, the administration has reorganised tehsils and revenue villages across five districts by creating Aryan Valley in Sham, Sodh in Kargil, Phey in Zanskar, Thasgam in Drass and Himya in Changthang. The changes are aimed at improving administrative accessibility and bringing government services closer to residents, particularly in remote areas.
Earlier, 17 new tehsils had been created, taking the total number of tehsils from 15 to 32. The latest reorganisation further reshapes the region’s revenue administration.
Another major development came with the formal notification of Sankoo as Ladakh’s eighth district on October 16, with Sankoo designated as its headquarters.
The new district comprises four tehsils—Sankoo, GM Pore, TSG and Taisuru—and has been carved out of Kargil district. The decision is expected to improve administrative access for residents of the Suru Valley and surrounding areas.
The amended LAHDC regulation provides for a revised council structure, with elected seats ranging from a minimum of seven to a maximum of 24, compared with the earlier 26 seats in each council.
It also provides for the nomination of four members representing women and unrepresented communities, with the stated objective of broadening participation in local decision-making and strengthening inclusive governance.
The series of administrative changes is intended to bring decision-making closer to the public, improve access to government offices and create a stronger framework for delivering development programmes across Ladakh.
Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support for the amended regulation, stating that it would strengthen grassroots democracy, local representation and inclusivity.
