Ladakh asks Sonam Wangchuk-linked school to 'stop classes' amid land dispute

The Ladakh administration has issued a notice directing Desert Flower School, associated with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), to stop classes and other activities, alleging that the institution began functioning without obtaining the necessary government approvals.

The notice, issued by the Leh Tehsildar on November 1, was addressed to Wangchuk's wife, Dr Gitanjali J Angmo, the founder and chief executive officer of HIAL.

The administration directed Angmo to maintain the status quo and refrain from undertaking activities that could affect the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the cancellation of land allotted to the institute.

The matter is currently pending before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹

According to the administration, Angmo had written to the Leh Deputy Commissioner on September 22, seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) or necessary clearance for the proposed members of the managing committee of Desert Flower School at Phyang.

However, the administration alleged that the school had already commenced classes and other activities without obtaining the requisite permissions from the competent authorities.

The notice advised Angmo against continuing or commencing activities at the school until the High Court decides the pending case or issues further directions.

It also instructed the institute to avoid any action that could prejudice the ongoing judicial proceedings.

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

The dispute dates back to May 2018, when the Ladakh administration allotted 1,076 kanals and one marla of land at Phyang Thang to HIAL for establishing an alternative university focused on sustainable development in the Himalayan region.

The land was proposed to be leased for 40 years, subject to specified conditions.

However, on August 21, 2025, the administration cancelled the allotment, alleging that the institute had failed to complete the required lease formalities and establish the university for which the land had been provided.

HIAL subsequently challenged the cancellation before the High Court.

In September 2026, the court restrained the administration from creating third-party rights over the disputed land while the petition remained under consideration.

The interim order, however, did not overturn the cancellation of the allotment.

𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

In October, the administration submitted a 136-page affidavit before the High Court defending its decision to cancel the land allotment.

It argued that the allotment had automatically lapsed in May 2019 because the lease deed had not been executed and the mandatory land premium had not been deposited within the stipulated one-year period.

The administration also referred to an October 2026 certification from Ladakh's Higher Education Department stating that HIAL was not a recognised university and that its courses did not have statutory affiliation.

HIAL has disputed the administration's allegations and maintained that delays in completing the lease formalities were attributable to the authorities.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Angmo has claimed that the institute applied for execution of the lease deed on May 20, 2018, just 15 days after the land was allotted, and subsequently made repeated requests to the administration.

Wangchuk has also accused the authorities of delaying the process, claiming that he made five written appeals, visited officials 15 times and made approximately 30 telephone calls seeking completion of the lease formalities.

He cited a February 2021 official communication which, according to him, acknowledged administrative delays arising from Ladakh's transition into a Union Territory and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wangchuk claimed that the communication permitted construction activities to continue while the lease formalities remained pending.

The activist has alleged that the land dispute is being used to target him because of his campaigns concerning Ladakh's rights and environmental protection.

The administration, however, has maintained that its actions were based on non-compliance with the conditions governing the original land allotment.

With the dispute still pending before the High Court, the latest notice has placed further restrictions on the functioning of Desert Flower School until the court decides the matter or issues additional directions.