Leh, Jan 6, KNT: The Ministry of Home Affairs is considering the formation of two Territorial Councils for the original districts of Leh and Kargil as an alternative to creating seven separate Hill Development Councils in the Union Territory of Ladakh, sources said.
The proposal has emerged following the formal creation of five new districts in Ladakh. While the New District Committee had recommended the establishment of independent Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for each newly carved district, it had also suggested an alternate governance framework in case the Centre decided against increasing the number of Councils.
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Under the alternate plan, the existing structure would largely be retained through the creation of two Territorial Councils. The Leh Territorial Council would exercise authority over the new districts of Sham, Nubra and Changthang, while the Kargil Territorial Council would cover Zanskar and Drass in addition to the parent district.
Sources said the MHA, in consultation with the Ladakh UT administration, has examined both models and has already worked out the required amendments to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, 1997, to facilitate either option. Officials indicated that the Territorial Council model has been prepared to maintain administrative continuity if the expansion of Councils is not approved.
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The New District Committee’s report, submitted last year, also outlined district boundaries, headquarters, manpower requirements and financial implications. Officials said the formal notification for the new districts will be issued by the Ladakh administration under Section 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, 1996, after approval of posts and financial sanctions.
It may be recalled that Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the creation of five new districts in Ladakh on August 26, 2024. These include Sham, Changthang and Nubra in Leh district, and Zanskar and Drass in Kargil, increasing the total number of districts from two to seven.
Officials said district headquarters have been identified and will be formally notified along with the creation of the new districts. Proposals related to budgetary allocations and postings of All India Services and UT cadre officers have already been forwarded to the Union Ministries of Home and Finance. However, full operationaliZation may take time due to infrastructure requirements, including administrative offices and police establishments.
Meanwhile, the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance continue to press for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh and have submitted representations to the MHA.
At present, Ladakh has two Hill Development Councils, Leh and Kargil, each comprising 30 Councillors including 26 elected members and four nominated by the UT administration. [KNT]
