Elections to 193 Panchayats and Seven Hill Councils Planned; UT-Level Elected Body Structure Yet to Be Finalised
JAMMU, August 21: The Ladakh administration has decided to initiate the process for holding Panchayat elections in the Union Territory, asking the State Election Commission (SEC) to undertake revision of electoral rolls and proceed towards issuance of the formal election notification.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra announced the decision during a press conference in Leh, stating that the administration intends to restore elected grassroots institutions and move forward with the long-pending local body election process.
According to the administration, the electoral roll revision will be the first step, after which the SEC will issue the election notification and undertake the remaining formalities.
193 Panchayats Likely to Go to Polls
Ladakh has 193 Panchayats, comprising 95 in Leh district and 98 in Kargil district.
The previous Panchayat and municipal elections were held in 2018, when Ladakh was still part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir. The terms of the elected local bodies subsequently ended in 2023 and early 2024.
Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory on August 5, 2019.
Seven Hill Councils to Be Elected Together
The administration also plans to conduct elections to all seven District Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) together.
Kundra, however, indicated that the Hill Council election process could take additional time because of various statutory and administrative formalities.
The number of Hill Councils in Ladakh has increased from two to seven following the creation of additional districts. At present, Kargil is the only district with an elected Hill Development Council, while elections to the other six councils are pending.
Municipal elections in the Union Territory are also awaited.
UT-Level Elected Body Still Under Discussion
On the demand for a Union Territory-level elected institution, the Chief Secretary said the proposed body cannot be constituted immediately as its structure, powers, electoral mechanism and legal framework have not yet been finalised.
He said several issues would have to be settled by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), including the model, powers and method of elections for the proposed institution.
The administration, he said, was taking into account the aspirations and concerns of the people of Ladakh while working out the framework.
LAB, KDA Submit Demands to Centre
Kundra said the issue was discussed during a meeting in Leh with officials of the MHA, representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and senior leaders from Ladakh.
Representatives of the two regional bodies called for a Ladakh-specific structure for the proposed elected institution and sought implementation of provisions associated with Article 371.
The LAB and KDA also submitted a set of demands described as non-negotiable for consideration by the Centre.
Kundra said further deliberations are expected during the next meeting of the Sub-Committee, which is likely to be convened in New Delhi in the first half of September. Efforts are reportedly being made to hold the meeting during the first week of September.
Police Cases Linked to Leh Violence Reviewed
The Chief Secretary also addressed demands for withdrawal of cases and compensation relating to people killed or injured during the September 24 violence in Leh last year.
He said 87 people had been booked, while nine had been charge-sheeted and their cases were currently before the courts.
Kundra said the matter had been discussed with the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and that a review had identified 25 cases where no significant evidence had emerged.
“In these cases, FIRs will be withdrawn and closure reports will be submitted before the court,” he said.
He added that the police chief would be directed to review the remaining cases and take an appropriate decision based on the available evidence.
The latest decisions come amid continuing talks between the Ladakh administration, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, LAB and KDA over the proposed UT-level elected institution and demands for greater financial, executive and legislative powers for Ladakh.(KNC)
