Leh Council completes term, powers given to DC
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 31: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, the last elected body in Leh district, ceased to exist today after completion of its five years term and the Union Territory administration of Ladakh has assigned affairs of the Council to Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh till a new Council is constituted after the fresh elections.
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An order assigning affairs of the Council to the Deputy Commissioner Leh was issued today by the Department of Law and Justice, Union Territory of Ladakh.
The UT administration of Ladakh has cited creation of new districts and reservation of one-third seats in the Council for women as the reasons for delay in holding elections to the LAHDC Leh, which was ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“In view of the ongoing process for creation of new districts and consequent need for drawing boundaries of Council areas and constituencies and need for implementation of the amendment to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, providing one-third reservation for women in the LAHDCs, holding elections to constitute a new LAHDC Leh, is not practicable at this stage, as it would lead to representational anomalies and administrative inconsistencies,” the Department of Law and Justice order, read.
It said that for effective discharge of functions, Romil Singh Donk, the Deputy Commissioner Leh, will administer the affairs of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, with effect from 31st October 2025 (today) until a new Council is constituted following fresh elections.
The BJP was in power in the Council for two successive terms. The BJP came to power for the first time in 2015 and retained powers in 2020. Five year terms of the Council ended today.
The Kargil Hill Development Council, ruled by NC and Congress, was formed in October 2023 and has its term till October 2028.
The Municipalities and Panchayats in the entire UT of Ladakh had completed their term in November-December 2023 and since then there has been no effort to hold elections to them, like Jammu and Kashmir. The Hill Council was last elected body in the Leh district.
It may be mentioned here that Leh was rocked by violence on September 24 during protest called by youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) demanding pre-ponement of talks with the MHA which, otherwise, were scheduled for October 6. Four civilians were killed and 90 others were injured in the violence.
However, as per sources, the violence has nothing to do with postponement of elections as this was done in view of creation of new districts and 33 percent reservation to women.
Both Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils have 30 seats each. Of them, elections are held for 26 seats while four Councilors are nominated by the UT administration. Taking 26 seats into account, eight or nine seats could be reserved for the women but for that an exercise is required to be undertaken by the administration for identification of seats to be reserved.
The MHA on August 25, 2024 approved five new districts for Ladakh and on December 3, 2024 announced 33 percent reservation for women in the twin Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil. Three new districts were announced for Leh and two for Kargil.
However, neither the districts have been formally created even after 14 months of announcement nor any Committee was set up to identify 33 percent seats to be reserved for the women.
Since three new districts have been carved out of existing Leh district and two from existing Kargil district, the Home Ministry has to take call whether all seven new districts will get the Hill Councils or there will be a new mechanism in place.
Sources said fresh elections are likely to be held only after new districts are in place with 33 percent reservation for women.
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