Ladakh announces AHDC for 7 districts, proposes new UT-level body under ‘customized Article 371 framework’ | Today’s news
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Monday announced a series of administrative measures aimed at improving local governance.
The initiatives include deployment of Tehsildars in the 17 newly created tehsils, creation of additional Public Works and Public Health Engineering divisions and steps to extend the provisions of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act to cover all the seven newly created districts, reports ANI.
Announcing the decision, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the proposed Union Territory-level institution under the adapted framework of Article 371 will function over seven Hill Councils and have legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers, according to PTI. He described it as a first-of-its-kind management model designed specifically to meet the unique requirements of Ladakh.
In a press release, the administration said Kundra also outlined progress in public sector recruitment, decentralization of administration and ongoing consultations on constitutional guarantees for Ladakh at a press conference in Leh.
Describing this year as a spiritually significant one for Ladakh, the Chief Secretary said the visit to the holy relics of Lord Buddha and the continued stay of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama had been a source of great blessings for the region.
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He mentioned that many young people had the opportunity to communicate with His Holiness, openly share their desires and concerns and seek his guidance. According to him, the discipline and values displayed by the youth reflect the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Ladakh.
Principal Secretary for Government Recruitment, DPC and the issue of constitutional guarantees
The Chief Secretary, while sharing government recruitment updates, said that 4,011 non-public posts in Group B and C have been filled since the creation of the Union Territory. Results have been declared for 473 posts, while document verification is underway for 484 candidates. Recruitment advertisements for 648 other non-public posts have already been issued, the report said.
He further informed that the recruitment for 27 published Group B posts has been completed while 344 published vacancies have been forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under the recruitment cycle 2025-2026.
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The Chief Secretary announced that the recruitment advertisements for 262 teaching posts in the school education department will be released tomorrow and soon the advertisements for 47 faculty posts in the University of Ladakh will also be uploaded. He added that around 7,000 applications have been received for the recruitment of 40 posts of sub-inspector and the recruitment process for 341 posts of constable and fireman is also underway.
Overall, he said, the administration has completed recruitment for 4,511 government posts while another 684 posts are currently in various stages of recruitment. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensure timely and transparent recruitment. Referring to the recent notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the recruitment of Group B vacancies, he assured that the administration would complete the required process within the stipulated time frame.
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On Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs), the Chief Secretary said that the administration has adopted a fast-track approach to clear pending promotions. Departments have been directed to expedite vigilance checks and other procedural requirements to ensure timely career advancement of employees, the report said.
Highlighting the latest administrative reforms, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said that after the creation of seven new districts, the Ladakh administration has posted Tehsildars in 17 newly established tehsils. He added that four new divisions under Public Health Department (PHE) and Flood Control Department along with five divisions under Public Works Department (PWD) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have also been set up, with officers appointed in the new units.
According to Kundra, these measures are to improve access to government services, reduce travel for residents of remote villages and improve infrastructure and development in regions such as Zanskar, Drass, Nubra, Changthang and Sham.
On constitutional guarantees, the chief secretary said the administration had held several rounds of consultations with representatives of religious groups and civil society organizations.
He added that the minutes of the meetings held on May 22 and July 3 were made public to ensure transparency. According to him, there is a broad consensus to protect Ladakh land, culture and identity while ensuring inclusive development.
Kundra further said that the administration is working to create an institutional framework tailored to the specific needs of Ladakh and is also exploring suitable legal measures to extend the benefits of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act to all the seven newly created districts.
The statement added that the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparent governance, decentralization, job creation and ensuring that development reaches every citizen, especially those residing in remote and border areas of the Union Territory.
