The Centre and representatives from Ladakh on Friday reached a breakthrough agreement to create an elected union territory (UT)‑level body endowed with “full legislative, executive and financial powers”, and to establish similar elected bodies in each of Ladakh’s seven districts. Talks, resumed after a gap of more than three months, included environmentalist-activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was released in March after six months in detention under the National Security Act.
Both sides also agreed to provide constitutional safeguards for Ladakh on issues such as land, jobs and culture by invoking provisions of Article 371-specifically cited by negotiators as Articles 371A, 371F and 371G-rather than Sixth Schedule protections. A government official said the arrangement falls short of the Ladakh bodies’ core demands for statehood, Sixth Schedule status and a UT with a legislature, but “accommodates their essence and spirit.”
Under the proposal, the UT‑level elected body’s executive head-described by Ladakh representatives as “proposed to be chief minister”—would exercise control over all UT bureaucrats, including the chief secretary. Sources said the existing two autonomous councils in Ladakh would be replaced by district‑level elected bodies with full legislative powers across all seven districts.
A press note issued by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) after talks with the Union home ministry said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) explained that Ladakh could not be granted statehood “at the moment” because it “currently lacks adequate revenue generation to meet revenue expenditures like salaries of employees.” The note added that the new arrangement “will lead Ladakh towards full statehood as and when it meets the revenue criteria.”
Government sources said there is broad agreement on creating UT‑ and district‑level bodies with extensive powers, but that key details-composition, structure, operational rules and the legislative framework-will be worked out by the MHA and Ladakh representatives in consultation with legal and constitutional experts. LAB and KDA have long campaigned for statehood, Sixth Schedule protections, constitutional safeguards and increased parliamentary representation for Ladakh.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/centre-ladakh-representatives-agree-to-create-elected-ut-body/articleshow/131268379.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-05-23 03:13:00
