Breakthrough in Centre-Ladakh talks

Srinagar, Jul 3: In a major development, representatives of the Union Home Ministry, the Leh Apex Body (LAB), and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Friday finalized the minutes of the sub-committee meeting held on May 22, in which both sides reached consensus on key issues ranging from constitutional safeguards to elected governance in the Union Territory.
Additional Secretary,MHA, Prashant Lokhande, today met representatives of LAB and KDA to finalize the minutes of the sub-committee constituted by the high-powered committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As per the minutes of the meeting signed by both sides, Ladakh will have a UT-level elected body with executive, financial, and legislative powers.
“After detailed deliberations, it was unanimously decided that while statehood would remain the long-term aspiration of Ladakh, in the present situation, as a first step, an appropriate customized model of governance by establishing a UT-level elected body with executive, financial, and legislative powers would be established,” the document reads.
The minutes further state that, in terms of functions and civil servants for the subjects under the purview of the UT-level elected body, control and supervision—including the Annual Performance Appraisal Report—will be exercised by the elected executive body. Further details will be finalized in future meetings as per the Transaction of Business Rules, the minutes state.
According to the minutes, a customized sui generis model will be adopted for Ladakh.
“During the meeting, the model of constitutional safeguards under Article 371 was also discussed. There have been instances of invoking Article 371(A to J), and it was agreed that a customized sui generis model most suitable for Ladakh would be adopted. It was decided that a draft proposal covering the powers and functions (executive, financial, and legislative) of this UT-level elected body, in harmonious relation with the PRIs, would be prepared for further discussion and fine-tuning,” the document states.
The sub-committee also noted “the substantial support extended by the Government to Ladakh in recent years through dialogue initiatives, protective legislation in terms of domicile criteria and reservations, employment measures, developmental interventions, infrastructure expansion, cultural recognition, and administrative reforms.” (KNO)