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26-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
With no guarantee of autonomy, sub-zero Ladakh will continue to boil
Early in June, the Indian government issued four notifications aimed at providing improved employment and cultural security to Ladakh, the country's northernmost region. A high-altitude desert, Ladakh is ecologically and culturally fragile, and geopolitically strategic, sharing borders with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and China-occupied Tibet. Since at least 2023, the residents of Ladakh have been demanding legal safeguards as per the Constitution that would grant them autonomy in governing the region in tune with its unique cultural and ecological conditions, and ensure they get dignified livelihoods. The June notifications addressed some of these key demands. One provides for employment reservation of up to 85% for Ladakhis, excluding the 10% reservation for economically weaker sections. The total of up to 95% reservation is amongst the highest in India. A second notification specifies that to obtain a 'domicile certificate', one has to already have a resident certificate, or have resided in Ladakh for 15 years after 2019. Such a certificate enables, amongst other things, access to job reservations. This means that non-Ladakhis will be ineligible for the next several years. A third notification reserves 33% seats on the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Councils for women. The fourth specifies that for official purposes, the following languages must be used: English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi, and that the Ladakh Administration should promote the local languages Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi. Though these notifications are progressive in essence and follow several years of public pressure, several concerns persist. For instance, the language of the job reservation notification – 'the total percentage of reservation shall in no case exceed 85%' – leaves open the possibility that more than 15% of jobs can be filled by outside workers. More importantly, there is no guarantee that the most powerful administrative posts will be filled by Ladakhis, unless the domicile provision is applicable. For instance, in the Union Territory's administration, all but one secretary-level posts have, so far, been held by non-Ladakhis. These officials, who come with experience from regions that vastly differ from Ladakh and struggle to understand this high-altitude desert ecosystem and its associated cultures and livelihoods, often end up imposing their own alien visions of development and welfare. There is also suspicion that these notifications are a diversion from the core issues that Ladakhis have been raising. Several protests have focused on the demand for constitutional safeguards, in the form of recognition under the Sixth Schedule, and statehood. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution guarantees protection to land and a degree of autonomy for the country's tribal areas. When the region was bifurcated from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 after the abrogation of its special status, it was granted Union Territory status. Initially, the mood was celebratory since Union Territory status had been a long-standing demand to free Ladakh from Srinagar's control. But soon Ladakhis realised that the centre of power had merely shifted to New Delhi and that under the new regime – headed by the lieutenant governor appointed by the Centre – Ladakhi institutions, including the elected Hill Council, had even less power than before. At the heart of this is constitutional status under the Sixth Schedule – which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had included as its first promise in the 2020 Hill Council elections – that will enable Ladakhis to safeguard their customary and traditional institutions, culture, ecology-based livelihoods – and especially land. With no movement on this from New Delhi, Ladakhis have repeatedly held protests, the latest being a march on foot from Leh to Delhi in September 2024. The Centre had then promised talks to consider the demands. Now, however, it is clear that the Centre does not want to recognise Ladakh's autonomy, at a time when it is intent on weakening India's federal structure, reducing the constitutional powers that states have. Centralising power is one motivation, while the other appears to be access to land and natural resources, both essential for the profit-making of corporations that have close ties with the ruling party and its allies. Having seen what is happening in other parts of India, Ladakhis fear losing control over their homeland. They have seen how decisions continue to be taken by the Union Territory's administration that undermine local capacity and expertise. For instance, envisioning Ladakh's development has been contracted to outside agencies, including multinational corporations like Ernst and Young, while infrastructure contracts have been given to companies based outside the region. There is a centralisation of decisions about land in the hands of the district commissioner. The domicile notification does not, in any way, guarantee that such processes will be in the hands of Ladakhis, even if local expertise and capacity may exist. Importantly, Sixth Schedule or statehood status is not by itself a guarantee that Ladakh's process of development will be sensitive to its culture, livelihoods and ecology. Similar motivations were at the heart of the people's movements that led to the formation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. But the subsequent failure of imagination about what a local culture and ecology-sensitive process of development could look like, coupled with electoral politics, corruption and other forces, have undermined much of those intentions. What is to keep Ladakh from going in the same direction, especially as it will have to generate a lot of its own resources? The frenzy of construction by Ladakhis in Leh, for what are clearly short-term profits from tourism, raises such a question. This is a concern that local leaders are well aware of – like Chhering Dorjay Lakruk, vice-chair of the Apex Body, one of the two regional organisations spearheading the movement – the other being Kargil Democratic Alliance. Lakruk has said that since ecology, including climate, and culture have been at the core of their demands, the hope is that these will form the foundation of their vision for an autonomous Ladakh. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several Ladakhi youth involved in the agitation, have said the same. In any case, these visions can only be put to the test if and when the constitutional status of autonomy is recognised. For too many years, the time and energy of Ladakhis have been wasted having to demand their most fundamental rights. This is not of benefit to either Ladakh or the rest of the subcontinent, given that the region is part of the largest freshwater reservoirs that hundreds of millions of people depend on, and that it is in one of India's most geopolitically sensitive areas But if the Centre continues to sidestep the main issue of autonomy and self-governance, the geo-politically important and climate-sensitive region will continue to be on the boil, even in the sub-zero temperatures of the highest plateau of India.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre OKs 85% quota for locals in jobs in Ladakh
NEW DELHI: Conceding the longstanding demands of Ladakhi people for safeguarding their economic rights as well as cultural and linguistic identity, the Centre on Tuesday introduced new reservation and domicile policy for the Union Territory, guaranteeing 85% quota to locals in jobs while also reserving one-third seats for women in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi languages were notified as official languages of Ladakh, with new regulation also requiring boosting institutional mechanisms for promoting native languages like Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi. Ladakh Autonomous Council to reserve 33% of seats for women Centre's move seeks to assuage the sentiments of Ladakh's native population that had been demanding constitutional safeguards to protect their language, culture and land after the special status of the erstwhile state of J&K, which included Ladakh, under Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, and Ladakh hived off into a separate Union Territory. Though short of their demand for Ladakh's inclusion in Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the 85% reservation for local Ladakhis in govt jobs and seats in professional institutions, was worked out in consultations held by a high-powered committee led by junior home minister Nityanand Rai, with civil society organisations from Ladakh. The safeguards for Ladakh finally implemented on Tuesday, are contained in a set of three separate regulations promulgated by the President of India on Monday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sanitize & Smooth Clothes Fast with Philips Steamer Philips Garment Steamers Shop Now Undo The UT of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Bill Regulation, 2025 amends provisions of the parent J&K Reservation Act, 2004, to raise the cap on total reservation in jobs and professional institutions in Ladakh to 85%, excluding the 10% quota for economically weaker sections. The Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, defines the conditions for domicile status: anyone who has resided in Ladakh for 15 years, or who has studied for seven years and appeared in Class 10 or 12 examination in a school located in UT, or whose parents are central govt officers who served in UT for 10 years. Children or spouses of Ladakhis fulfilling the 15-year domicile condition will also get domicile status. The procedure for grant of domicile certificate, notified in a separate set of rules, makes tehsildar the competent authority to issue domicile certificates; an officer appointed by the UT administrator will do the same for the children of central govt officers with 10-year service in Ladakh. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) Regulation 2025, notified on Tuesday, states that "not less than one-third of the total number of seats in the council shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies". The move is in line with spirit of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which provides for 33% quota to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Ladakh has two autonomous hill development councils - one each for Leh and Kargil. Centre had assured a delegation from Ladakh in Dec 2023 that it was committed to fast-tracking the development of UT and meeting aspirations of the people in the region. Subsequently, an HPC for Ladakh was constituted under Nityanand Rai. In Aug 2024, Centre created five new districts in Ladakh - Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang.
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
President Murmu promulgates Regulation ensuring 85 percent reservation in jobs for people of Ladakh
Meanwhile, President Murmu also promulgated the Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025 to declare English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi as official languages of the Union Territory of Ladakh. 'Provided that the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union territory for which it was being used before the date of commencement of this Regulation,' reads the notification It further stated that the Administrator may take such necessary steps as may be provided by rules to be made by him to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for the promotion and development of other languages in the Union territory and the establishment of the Academy of Art, Culture and languages. 'The institutional mechanisms referred to in sub-section (1) shall make special efforts for the promotion and development of other native languages of Ladakh: Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi,' it further stated. 'Every rule made under this Regulation shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament,' added the notification. The President of India has also promulgated Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025 to reserve 1/3rd seats in Hill Councils of both Leh and Kargil Hill Councils for women. The rotation of constituencies reserved for women shall be made on the basis of serial number allotted to each constituency by notification in the official gazette, reads the notification.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
New rules on reservation, domicile, languages notified for Ladakh
The Union government on Tuesday notified new rules for Ladakh, allowing reservation in government jobs for locals, a 15-year residency requirement for domicile status, one-third of seats in hill councils for women, and five official languages as part of efforts to safeguard the region's interests. In 2023, the Union home ministry formed a high-powered committee under junior minister Nityanand Rai to discuss ways to protect Ladakh's unique culture, considering its location and strategic importance. The panel, which included the members of Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, deliberated protection of land and employment, and the empowerment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil, and other constitutional safeguards. The Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation was notified days after the ministry and Ladakhi representatives met on May 27 and agreed to the rules, an official aware of the matter said. It defines a domicile for jobs as a person who has resided in the Union territory for 15 years, studied for seven years and appeared for class 10th or 12th examinations in Ladakh. This means any outsider settled in Ladakh after Jammu and Kashmir's was bifurcated into two Union territories in 2019 will be eligible for domicile status in 2034. A similar policy announced for Jammu and Kashmir in May 2020 said that individuals can claim domicile status if they lived there for at least 15 years, studied for seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 exams there. The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, also notified on Tuesday, says the reservation shall in no case exceed 85% of the available vacancies, excluding reservation for economically weaker sections. The official cited above said 80% of vacancies are reserved for the region's majority, Scheduled Tribes (STs), 4% for those living along the Line of Actual Control or Line of Control, 1% for the Scheduled Castes and 10% for the Economically Weaker Sections. The ministry had proposed 95% of the reservation for locals during discussions. A third notification issued on Tuesday provides for one-third seats for women in the hill councils by rotation to different territorial constituencies. The Ladakh Official Languages Regulation recognises English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi as the official languages and says that the administrator 'shall make special efforts for the promotion and development of other native languages of Ladakh: Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi'. Sajjad Kargili, a leader from Kargil who participated in the high-powered panel meetings, called the notifications a positive step. 'All the assurances given by the government of India have been largely fulfilled. I believe this will now help local youth get employment in Ladakh, who have been in depression for the past six years, as no recruitment was done.' Kargili said they will continue discussions on other demands, including a separate Public Service Commission, statehood, and the region's inclusion in the Constitution's Sixth Schedule, which provides for the administration of tribal areas, establishment of autonomous councils with legislative, executive, judicial, and financial powers with a degree of self-governance. In February 2024, thousands protested in Delhi, Leh and other parts of Ladakh demanding statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 15-day fast in Delhi in October last year after a home ministry official met the protesters and promised to resume the talks related to Ladakh's development.
