After Initial Wrangling, MHA and Ladakhi Groups Reach Consensus on Key Issues
Srinagar: After a six‑year‑long agitation in Ladakh, the Union government and Ladakh's two leading groups on Friday (July 3) evolved a consensus on the contours of the safeguards for the Union Territory, as well as an elected body and its control over the bureaucracy.
Both sides today signed the minutes of the sub‑committee meeting held on May 22, in which consensus had emerged on key issues. The sub‑committee of the high-powered committee comprised representatives of the Union home ministry and the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) groups.
The home ministry formed the committee to address demands for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh and the protection of land and jobs among others.
Earlier, the LAB and the KDA had alleged that the home ministry produced inaccurate minutes of the May 22 meeting and later failed to produce a revised draft.
Ladakh to have customised sui generis model
On the demand for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, the sub‑committee decided that Ladakh will have a customised sui generis model that is best suited for the Union territory.
“During the meeting, the model of constitutional safeguards with Article 371 was also discussed. There have been instances of invoking Article 371 (A to J), and it was agreed that a customised sui generis model most suitable for Ladakh would be adopted,” reads the minutes of the meeting.
The customised sui-generis model means that Ladakh will have unique safeguards best suited to it.
Speaking to The Wire, KDA co‑chairman Sajjad Hussain Kargili said that Ladakh will have constitutional safeguards under Article 371 of the Constitution.
“A new provision will be incorporated into the Constitution of India after drawing from the existing provisions of Article 371 which are best suited to Ladakh,” he claimed.
While acknowledging that “statehood would remain the long‑term aspiration of Ladakh”, the sub‑committee, as per the minutes of the meeting, decided that Ladakh would have a Union territory-level elected body with executive, financial and legislative powers.
“After detailed deliberations, it was unanimously decided that while statehood would remain the long‑term aspiration of Ladakh, in the present situation, as a first step, an appropriate customised model of governance by establishing a UT‑level elected body with executive, financial and legislative powers would be established,” reads the minutes.
Yet, the name of the elected body has not been spelled out in the minutes. During previous discussions, Ladakhis rejected the idea of naming the elected body a territorial council.
The sub‑committee also decided that a draft proposal covering the powers and functions (executive, financial and legislative) of this UT‑level elected body would be prepared for further discussion and fine‑tuning.
For the subjects that fall in its domain, the Union territory's elected body will have control and supervision over civil servants.
“It was agreed that in terms of functions and civil servants for the subjects under the purview of the UT‑level elected body, the control and supervision, including Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR), will be exercised by the elected executive body. Further details will be finalised in future meetings as per the Transaction of Business Rules,” reads the document.
After the Modi government read down Article 370 in 2019, Ladakhis have demanded constitutional safeguards under the sixth schedule to the Constitution and statehood for the region. They formed the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance to spearhead the agitation over these demands.
On September 24, 2025, four people were killed in Leh during clashes over these demands.
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