6 hrs ago
Ladakh’s Five New Districts Move Toward Elected Hill Councils
Ladakh has five new districts that are expected to get their own elected councils.
These councils help local people take part in decisions about their districts.
Until now, only Leh and Kargil had elected hill councils.
The new districts are Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Changthang.
The Lieutenant Governor approved the step needed to create councils in all seven districts.
The election process will start after an official notice is published.
The exact election dates are not known yet.
Officials say the councils will bring government decisions closer to local communities.
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena approved notification creating autonomous hill councils in all seven Ladakh districts.
The five new councils will cover Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Changthang.
Elected Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils previously operated only in Leh and Kargil.
The election process will begin after formal notification under Section 8 of the 1997 law.
Election dates have not yet been announced, with polls expected to be held in due course.
- Who
- Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the Ladakh administration approved the expansion of autonomous hill councils.
- What
- Elected Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils will be extended to five new districts, covering all seven districts.
- Where
- The move applies across the Union Territory of Ladakh, including Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Changthang.
- When
- The approval was announced on Thursday; election dates have not yet been announced.
- Why
- The administration says the councils will decentralise governance, strengthen local bodies and give residents a greater role in planning and development.
Key facts
- Existing councils
- Elected councils previously operated only in Leh and Kargil.
- New council areas
- Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Changthang.
- Total districts covered
- Seven: Leh, Kargil, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass.
- Approving authority
- Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena.
- Legal framework
- Section 8 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.
- Election status
- The process is to begin, but election dates have not been announced.
- Effective date
- The notification will take effect when published in the Official Gazette.
Quotes
V K Saxena
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh
“The creation of Autonomous Hill Development Councils in all seven districts is a milestone in strengthening grassroots governance in Ladakh.”
NDTV
Sources
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