Srinagar: The next round of discussions on constitutional and legislative safeguards for Ladakh is expected in October, with the Centre and representatives of the Union Territory working towards a proposed elected UT-level body and a special constitutional framework under Article 371.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, a 1996-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, said the latest meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) was held in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The discussions focused on the broad structure of the proposed governance arrangement, including direct elections to the UT-level body and safeguards for Ladakh’s land, culture, heritage, natural resources, environment and employment.
Directly Elected UT-Level Body Discussed
According to Kundra, participants reached an understanding that members of the proposed UT-level body would be directly elected through constituencies.
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The proposed arrangement is being discussed as a special, or sui generis, governance model tailored to Ladakh. Reports indicate that the body is envisaged with legislative and financial powers, although the precise distribution of powers remains part of the ongoing discussions.
The Ladakh representatives have also been asked to prepare a draft examining the relationship between the proposed UT-level body and the existing Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs).
Safeguards to Cover Land, Jobs and Culture
The discussions are aimed at developing constitutional and legislative safeguards addressing key concerns raised by Ladakh’s political and civil society groups.
The issues under discussion include:
- Protection of land and local resources
- Safeguards for culture and heritage
- Protection of the region’s environment and natural resources
- Employment opportunities for local residents
- The relationship between the proposed UT-level body and the LAHDCs
- Distribution of powers between different levels of administration
Kundra said the constitutional process would require consultations and parliamentary consideration.
“The process will be taken forward through dialogue and consensus, and no framework will be imposed on Ladakh without due consultation with stakeholders,” he said.
The next round of discussions is expected to be held in October, with the administration hoping to advance the draft framework by then.
79 Posts Cleared for Recruitment
Alongside the political dialogue, the administration announced developments on recruitment and service-related matters.
The MHA has issued an enabling notification for recruitment to 79 posts across 15 departments under the Ladakh Reservation Rules, 2025.
The draft recruitment rules will be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor for approval and subsequently forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to initiate the recruitment process.
The posts include:
- Assistant Directors
- Under Secretaries
- Deputy Registrars
- Excise and Taxation Officers
- Assistant Labour Commissioners
- Block Development Officers
- Tehsildars
- Officers in Social Welfare and Tourism departments
Ladakh Administrative, Police Services Approved
The MHA has also approved the creation of the Ladakh Administrative Service (LAS) and Ladakh Police Service (LPS). The modalities for establishing and operationalising the two services are expected to be worked out shortly.
Kundra further said that recommendations for appointments against 1,340 categories/posts had been received under the ongoing recruitment process, while 1,504 posts had been advertised and 716 vacancies filled through promotions.
125 Medical Officer Posts to Be Fast-Tracked
Recruitment to 125 Medical Officer posts is also being expedited.
A UPSC board is scheduled to visit Ladakh from September 21 to 25 to conduct interviews, allowing the recruitment process to move forward within the Union Territory.
Nautor Land Rules Yet to Be Finalised
Kundra also clarified the position on the proposed Nautor land rules, saying the draft framework does not envisage the monetisation of Nautor land.
The proposed rules are intended to address long-pending issues concerning tenancy and the conversion of eligible tenancy rights into ownership, subject to the applicable legal framework.
He said the final rules have not yet been notified and that suggestions from stakeholders would be considered before they are finalised.
The administration is also examining provisions relating to land held by monasteries and other religious institutions, along with measures concerning small landholders.
Cases and Compensation From September 24 Incident
On cases arising from the September 24, 2025 incident in Ladakh, Kundra said proposals concerning the withdrawal of cases and compensation for affected families had been taken up with the Lieutenant Governor for consideration.
The issue remains part of the broader discussions between Ladakh representatives and the Centre.
The Chief Secretary reiterated that the administration would continue to pursue the political dialogue through consultation and consensus while working on administrative reforms and addressing concerns raised by stakeholders.
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