MHA floats elected body plan for Ladakh under proposed Article 371 Chapter K

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed the creation of an elected body for the Union Territory of Ladakh by introducing a new constitutional provision under Article 371, according to civil society members who met ministry officials in Delhi on Wednesday.

The proposal, outlined in a PowerPoint presentation, envisages a directly elected UT-level body with legislative powers over subjects such as land, culture, language, forest, environment, and natural resources. The MHA indicated that any other matter reserved for the UT under Article 240 could also fall under its purview.

However, Cherring Dorjay Lakruk of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) expressed disappointment, noting that the meeting largely reiterated discussions from May 22. He said the delegation was not provided a detailed draft proposal despite the presentation.

Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra described the meeting as positive, stating on X that the broad contours of a sui generis governance model under Article 371 were discussed, with deepening democracy as the goal.

Representatives of the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) urged the MHA to restrain the Lieutenant Governor from taking major administrative, bureaucratic, or land-related decisions until constitutional safeguards are in place. They pressed for legislation to be passed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

The delegation also sought compensation for families of four people killed in police firing during violence in Leh city on September 24, 2025, and the withdrawal of criminal cases against 80 individuals, drawing a parallel with protections given to participants of the Gen Z protest in Delhi.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, part of the delegation, said the meeting was not a complete success as no draft proposal was provided. He noted that the government assured compensation for the injured and families of the deceased. The groups had planned a protest march from Leh to Kargil on September 10, which was preceded by the MHA's invitation for talks.

Sajjad Kargili of the KDA said the groups stressed that legislation for the elected body should be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament during the Winter Session. Ladakh has been without a legislative assembly since it became a UT in 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370.