Seven years after Ladakh became a Union territory, carved out from the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state, the administration announced steps towards grassroots governance. Chief Secretary, Ashish Kundra, announced the constitution of Autonomous Hill Development Councils in each of the seven districts.
He described it as a major step towards democratic decentralisation and grassroots governance. Section 3(1) of the LAHDC Act already provides for a Council for every district. Listing future steps in the process, Kundra said only amendments to the Act where required and a delimitation of constituencies remained.
Ladakh moved from two districts to seven in April 2026, when Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass were notified. Elected representation until now has stayed with the two existing Councils in Leh and Kargil. However, according to the Chief Secretary, the new districts will get the same authority that Leh has held since 1995 and Kargil since 2003, not a reduced version of it.
The powers of the Hill Councils have been announced as follows:
1. Councils will have authority over land ownership and land allotment within the district. Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass will exercise that authority within their own boundaries.
2. Councils will regulate recruitment and promotion for district cadre posts. Employment decisions in the new districts will rest with an elected body inside the district.
3. Councils will hold a dedicated Council Fund and can levy taxes and fees. Each new district will have a revenue base of its own.
4. Councils will formulate their own development plans. Each district will set its own priorities rather than receive them from Leh or Kargil.
5. Councils will be responsible for health, education and tourism at the district level, along with local infrastructure and social welfare schemes.
A Union Territory level body is proposed above the seven Councils under a customised Article 371 framework, with legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers. The Chief Secretary said the model has no parallel elsewhere in the country and will draw on the best features of other arrangements. Panchayati Raj institutions will continue alongside the Hill Councils.
The structure and powers of the Union Territory level body will be settled through consultation between Ladakh’s representatives and the Government of India. Some rebalancing of powers between the Councils and the UT body may follow. The Councils are the first firm element of the new structure to be confirmed. The Chief Secretary asserted Ladakh will have elected representation at the village, district and Union Territory levels.
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