Ladakh Extends Elected Hill Councils to All Seven Districts

The Union Territory of Ladakh is set to expand its grassroots democratic framework, with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena approving the notification to establish Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) across all seven districts.

Until now, elected hill councils operated only in the districts of Leh and Kargil. The latest approval extends this system to the five newly created districts of Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass, and Changthang, which were carved out earlier this year as part of an administrative reorganisation.

The decision follows the Centre's July 13 announcement to bring the entire Union Territory under the autonomous hill council framework. With the notification now in place, the process for electing councils in the new districts is expected to commence, though specific election dates have not yet been announced.

The Ladakh administration has indicated that elections will be held in due course following a formal notification under Section 8 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997. The notification will take effect once published in the Official Gazette.

Officials describe the move as a step toward decentralised governance, allowing local representatives a greater role in district-level planning and administration. The Lieutenant Governor termed the occasion a historic day for Ladakh, stating that the councils would empower people at the grassroots and help fulfil long-standing aspirations.

Ladakh, which does not have a legislative assembly, has relied on the hill council system for local representation in Leh and Kargil. The expansion to all seven districts marks a significant shift in the region's governance structure, with the next key milestone being the formal notification and conduct of elections in the five new councils.