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Ladakh could soon get a new governance framework with Constitutional safeguards and an elected body, as the Centre moves towards a proposal under Article 371 for the Union Territory.
Ashish Kundra, Chief Secretary of Ladakh, said in an interview to NDTV that Parliament will amend Article 371 to provide the region with the required Constitutional protections. He also said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has begun work on both the safeguards and the proposed elected body.
Ladakh to get ‘sui generis’ governance model
Kundra said the proposed arrangement would be different from the existing models of governance for Union Territories and states.
"It's a unique model we are working on. It's a 'sui generis' model of governance. Ladakh will have an elected body, but it will not be UT with legislature or state with legislature," Kundra told NDTV.
The term 'sui generis' refers to something unique or belonging to its own kind. Under the proposed framework, Ladakh would have an elected institution without becoming a Union Territory or state with a legislature.
Kundra is part of the central government team engaged in discussions with representatives from Ladakh. The two sides held another round of talks in Delhi on Tuesday.
From Article 370 to demand for safeguards
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory after the Centre bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and removed its special status under Article 370.
While the move initially received support from sections of Ladakh, dissatisfaction grew over what protesters described as bureaucratic governance. Over the past four years, demands have included statehood and Constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
The Sixth Schedule provides for autonomous local councils with powers over areas such as land, forests, water and agriculture, giving local communities a role in regional development.
Government addresses cases after Leh violence
The issue gained further urgency following clashes in Leh last year, in which four people were killed and several others injured during confrontations with security forces. Several people, including activist Sonam Wangchuk, were subsequently arrested.
The government has said cases against most of those arrested have already been withdrawn.
Kundra said Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor will soon decide on cases in which chargesheets have already been filed.
