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Fresh disagreements have emerged in the Centre’s ongoing dialogue with Ladakh’s civil society groups after representatives claimed that key points agreed during a May 22 meeting were left out of the draft minutes circulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The dispute centres on the proposed powers of an elected administrative head and constitutional safeguards sought for the Union Territory. While Ladakh leaders argue that the omissions dilute the outcome of the discussions, government officials maintain that the document remains a draft and can still be amended before being finalised.
The Centre's ongoing engagement with Ladakh's civil society groups has encountered a fresh hurdle after representatives from the region alleged that important understandings reached during recent discussions were omitted from the draft minutes prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The disagreement relates to a meeting held on May 22 between MHA officials and representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been leading demands for constitutional and political safeguards for Ladakh. Although the discussions were initially viewed as a positive step towards resolving long-standing concerns, differences have emerged over how the outcomes were recorded.
According to representatives involved in the talks, the draft minutes failed to adequately reflect several key points that had been discussed and broadly agreed upon during the meeting. The principal point of contention is the alleged omission of a provision that would place the Union Territory's bureaucracy under the authority of an elected administrative head.
Ladakh leaders have argued that the proposal formed a central part of discussions on democratic governance in the region. Under the framework discussed, the elected administrative head would exercise executive, legislative and financial powers and would also have a role in matters relating to the transfer and posting of bureaucrats. They contend that without such provisions, any future governance structure could leave elected representatives with limited authority over the administration.
Another concern relates to constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. Representatives said discussions included proposals inspired by Article 371 of the Constitution, which provides special provisions for several states. According to them, the Centre had sought flexibility on the demand for Sixth Schedule status, and discussions explored alternative statutory mechanisms that could provide similar protections for the region's land, culture and employment interests.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who participated in the discussions, alleged that the omissions had created uncertainty regarding the actual outcomes of the meeting. He maintained that restoring democratic accountability in Ladakh required elected representatives to exercise meaningful authority over the administrative machinery, including senior officials.
Representatives of the LAB and KDA have reportedly objected to the draft record and prepared their own account of the discussions based on meeting recordings. They have argued that the final minutes should accurately reflect the understandings reached before the dialogue process moves forward.
Government officials, however, have sought to downplay the controversy. Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra clarified that the circulated document was only a draft and not the final record of proceedings. He said stakeholders were free to point out omissions or discrepancies, which could be communicated to the Centre for consideration before the minutes are finalised.
The dispute comes at a crucial stage in negotiations concerning Ladakh's future governance framework. Since becoming a Union Territory in 2019, the region has witnessed sustained demands for stronger constitutional protections, greater democratic representation and enhanced control over administrative affairs. While the May 22 meeting had raised hopes of progress, the latest disagreement highlights the complexities involved in reaching a consensus on Ladakh's political future.
Source- PTI
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