Srinagar: A day ahead of the ‘Peace March’ by civil society in Ladakh to spotlight the prevailing crisis, the Union territory administration on Friday (October 17) issued an ex-parte order banning public gatherings in Leh district.

The ban on public gatherings was imposed on the day when the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a judicial probe led by retired Supreme Court Justice B.S. Chauhan into the September 24 violence in which four civilian protesters were killed in firing by security forces in Leh.

The judicial probe into the violence was one of the major demands of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) which have been spearheading the agitation for constitutional safeguards and the restoration of democracy in Ladakh.

The order by Leh district magistrate Romil Singh Donk on Friday, quoting an unspecified report of the senior superintendent of the Leh police (SSP), said that there was “apprehension of disturbance to public peace and tranquillity, danger to human life and a possibility of law and order problem” in the Leh tehsil.

The order stated that “immediate prevention and remedial measures” were required to “maintain public order and tranquility” in view of the SSP's report (PA/Conf/2025-6649 dated 17/10/2025).

Invoking section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, the district administration banned processions, rallies and marches in Leh without the “prior written approval of the competent authority”.

Section 163 grants sweeping powers to magistrates to prohibit or restrict public gatherings, even as the Supreme Court has ruled that the legislation, which covers the offence under section 144 of the old law, should be used sparingly in “extraordinary” circumstances.

The order to ban public gatherings is also likely to impact educational institutions in Ladakh, which have been repeatedly closed after the violence broke out last month.

The district administration also banned the use of loudspeakers. “No one shall make any statements, which has potential to disturb the public tranquillity and which may lead to law and order problem,” the order stated, banning gatherings of five or more persons in the Leh tehsil.

The administration has warned that violation of the order “shall invite punitive action under 223 of BNS 2023”. 

Section 223 covers the punishment for violations of section 163 of the BNSS and grants powers to a magistrate to examine written complaints of violations and order the registration of an FIR without hearing the accused if the complaint is made by a government official.

The order by the Leh administration seems to be aimed at foiling the ‘Peace March’ that was announced earlier this week by the joint leadership of Ladakh's civil society comprising the LAB and the KDA to spotlight the prevailing political crisis in the territory.

The march was scheduled to be held on Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm across Ladakh followed by a power blackout between 6 pm and 9 pm.

KDA leader Asgar Ali Karbalai told the media in Leh on Tuesday that the march was aimed at sending a message to the BJP-led Union government.

“Unless Ladakhis don't get justice and their constitutional rights, especially statehood and [inclusion in the] sixth schedule, they will not stay silent,” Karbalai, who was flanked by LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook and other leaders, said. 

Earlier on Friday, the MHA said that a judicial commission led by Justice Chauhan will probe the “circumstances leading to the serious law and order problem” in Leh on September 24 and the “unfortunate death of four civilians” in “police action”.

The Leh police have filed an FIR (144/2025) under sections 189, 191(2), 191(3). 190, 115(2), 118(1), 118(2), 326, 324, 326(c), 326(f), 326(g), 309, 109, 117(2), 125, 121(1) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with the violence.

The MHA order said that the former Supreme Court judge would be assisted by retired district and sessions judge Mohan Singh Parihar as judicial secretary and IAS officer Tushar Anand as administrative secretary “in conducting the judicial inquiry”.

The order announcing the judicial inquiry is widely seen as an olive branch by the Union government towards resuming informal talks with the LAB-KDA combine that have been derailed following the violence last month.

“The Government has always been open for dialogues at any time. We would continue to welcome the discussion with LAB-KBA through the High Powered Committee on Ladakh or any such platform,” the MHA said on Friday.

It added: “We are confident that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in near future. The Government stands committed to the aspiration of people of Ladakh.”

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