Ladakh groups submit ‘non-negotiable’ demands for elected assembly, home affairs under govt

Srinagar: Representatives of Ladakh on Wednesday said they had submitted a non-negotiable resolution to officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) during their meeting in Leh.

The resolution included a demand for a legislative assembly for Ladakh, with its powers and functions based on Lists I and III of the Seventh Schedule under Article 246 of the Constitution and, where required, the Union Territories Act, 1963, along with constitutional safeguards under relevant provisions of Article 371. They also demanded that home affairs be placed under the elected government, like that in Puducherry.

The meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon between members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), Apex Body Leh (ABL), and MHA officials. "We submitted our important and non-negotiable points to the government, clearly outlining our key demands and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh," said KDA's Sajjad Kargili. The resolution also includes unconditional withdrawal of all cases against those affected by the September 24 incident, along with dignified and adequate compensation for the victims and their families.


"We remain firmly committed to safeguarding the democratic, constitutional, and political rights of the people of Ladakh," he said.

The ABL and KDA said the demands were put forth following the broad understanding reached between them and the MHA at a meeting held in New Delhi on May 22 this year.

"The (governance) setup must have an assembly called Ladakh legislative assembly, headed by a chief minister and a council of nine ministers and a suitable number of members elected from constituencies demarcated through a constitutionally recognised delimitation mechanism," the resolution stated.

They said the powers and functions of the assembly must be based on Lists I and III of the Seventh Schedule, and where needed, the Union Territories Act, 1963. "However, the Lt Governor of Ladakh should act on the aid and advice of the assembly in order to preempt conflicts as seen in some UTs," the resolution read.

The representatives said the understanding reached was that, since Ladakh may currently lack the revenue resources required for full-fledged statehood, a mutually acceptable sui-generis model of democratic governance would be adopted while keeping full statehood as the ultimate goal.

"The elected Ladakh legislative assembly must have meaningful and constitutionally protected control over taxation, budget, appropriation, expenditure, borrowing and public funds, including a constitutionally protected Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund," the resolution stated.