Ladakh LG notifies Hill councils in all eight districts, first medical college in Leh in 2027

Srinagar: Lieutenant governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu, paving the way for the creation of councils in all eight districts of the Union Territory, including the newly created Sankoo district.

Saxena said regulation was implemented in a record time of six days. The Union cabinet approved the amendments on October 14, followed by their promulgation by the President two days later.

“I am pleased to announce that upon the promulgation of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, by the Hon’ble President of India, I have notified the regulation with effect from October 19, 2026,” Saxena said in a post on X.


The amended regulation rationalises the number of constituencies in each Hill Development Council, reducing the earlier 26 seats to a minimum of seven and a maximum of 24 seats.

It also provides for the nomination of four members from among women and unrepresented communities to enhance inclusivity and public participation in local governance.

Saxena expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for the regulation, saying it would strengthen grassroots democracy, enhance local representation and promote inclusivity.

The development follows the Ladakh administration’s expansion of the Union Territory’s district structure. The LG had approved the creation of five new districts – Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass – on April 27, raising the total number to seven. The five districts were formally inaugurated on April 30, while Sankoo was announced as the eighth district on October 16. The LG also announced the creation of councils in all districts of the Union Territory.

Meanwhile, the LG also informed that Ladakh’s first medical college in Leh is set to become a reality in 2027, with the Union health and family welfare ministry approving its operationalisation and granting a one-time relaxation to initiate preparatory recruitment of faculty and support staff before the completion of 80 per cent of the infrastructure.

Saxena said it would enable the Union Territory administration to begin staggered recruitment against 103 sanctioned regular posts while construction of the dedicated academic infrastructure progresses.

“I sincerely thank Health Minister J P Nadda ji for taking cognisance of my request and granting a one-time relaxation from 80 per cent completion of the infrastructure before initiating recruitment of faculty and support staff,” Saxena said on X.