Atiya Mujeeb
LEH, July 13: The Ladakh Administration on Monday announced that Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) will be established in all seven districts of the Union Territory, a move aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and decentralising administrative powers.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the decision was taken following discussions between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Apex Body Leh, and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). He said the LAHDC Act would be amended wherever required, and constituency delimitation would be carried out before the new Hill Councils are constituted.
Kundra also said consultations are underway on providing Ladakh with a special constitutional framework under Article 371. As part of the proposal, a Union Territory-level body with legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers is being discussed. He said the final structure and powers of the proposed body would be decided after consultations with Ladakh’s representatives and the Government of India.
Highlighting recruitment, the Chief Secretary said over 4,500 government posts have either been filled or their recruitment process completed since Ladakh became a Union Territory. Recruitment for 1,684 additional posts is currently in progress. He added that advertisements will soon be issued for 262 Primary and Upper Primary Teacher posts, 47 posts in the University of Ladakh, and 331 Constable posts.
Speaking about administrative reforms, Kundra said the newly created 17 tehsils have been made functional with the appointment of tehsildars. He added that new divisions under the Public Works Department (PWD), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Public Health Engineering (PHE) have also been established to improve governance and public services across all seven districts.
He reiterated that the administration is committed to bringing governance closer to people, particularly those living in remote and border areas. Senior officials, he said, will regularly visit the newly created districts to monitor development works and address public grievances.
Kundra further said the administration is examining objections received on the proposed Excise Policy before taking a final decision. He clarified that Panchayati Raj Institutions will continue to function alongside the proposed Hill Councils, while more district-level posts will be created in phases as the administrative structure expands.
The announcements come amid ongoing talks between the Centre and Ladakh’s civil society groups over demands for constitutional safeguards, greater decentralisation and institutional reforms following Ladakh’s transition into a Union Territory in 2019.
