According to a report, the upcoming meeting of the MHA’s Sub-Committee will be held in Leh instead of New Delhi, amid expectations of possible progress in the ongoing dialogue over Ladakh’s political and constitutional demands.
LAB chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk told the newspaper that the organisation had not received a formal written invitation but had been informed by Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra that the meeting would take place on October 15.
The LAB delegation is expected to include Lakruk, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and Ladakh Buddhist Association president Gelong Stanzin Dorjay.
The KDA will be represented by Sajjad Kargili, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Ghulam Rasool Naqvi. Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan, former MP Thupstan Chhewang, Kargil Hill Development Council chairman Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon and former Leh Hill Development Council chairman Tashi Gyalson are also expected to attend, along with senior MHA and Ladakh administration officials.
Lakruk said the LAB had finalised its responses to nine queries raised by the MHA during the previous Sub-Committee meeting held in New Delhi on September 9. The responses, prepared with assistance from the organisation’s legal adviser in New Delhi, will be submitted to the Ministry’s officials during the meeting.
KDA leader Sajjad Kargili, meanwhile, said the alliance expects the MHA to present a draft outlining the proposed UT-level elected body, including its legislative, financial and executive powers.
Kargili argued that since the proposal for the elected body had originated from the Home Ministry, the Ministry should provide the draft without further delay.
During the September 9 meeting, it was decided that representatives of the proposed UT-level body would be directly elected by the people rather than selected by members of the seven Autonomous Hill Development Councils.
Sources cited in the report said the nine queries raised by the MHA concerned limited issues and did not cover the full range of powers proposed for the elected body.
The discussions have also covered the proposed body’s role in matters relating to land, culture, heritage, forests, the environment and natural resources under Article 240.
The ongoing dialogue follows an in-principle understanding reached between the Central Government, LAB and KDA during a meeting in New Delhi on May 22. The understanding concerned the restoration of democratic processes in Ladakh, constitutional safeguards on the lines of provisions under Articles 371A, 371F and 371G, and the establishment of a UT-level elected body with legislative, financial and executive powers.
Two subsequent meetings were also held by the MHA in Leh to discuss the proposed body’s structure and functions. However, the Ministry has yet to publicly outline key details, including the body’s proposed name, total number of seats, exact powers and other institutional arrangements.
Meanwhile, the Ladakh administration has notified seven District Hill Development Councils. Previously, the Union Territory had two Hill Councils, one each for Leh and Kargil. The Kargil Hill Council currently has an elected body, while the term of the Leh Hill Council ended in October last year.
The October 15 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for the MHA and Ladakh’s representative groups to address outstanding questions concerning the proposed elected body and the broader framework of political and constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.
