Post-2019 reorganisation, Ladakh faces a governance crisis as it seeks to balance security priorities with demands for representation, protection of land and jobs, and environmental safeguards.
Background
- Revocation of Special Status: On 5 August 2019, Article 370 was abrogated, and the former state of Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Lack of Representation: Ladakh was constituted as a Union Territory without a legislature, unlike Jammu & Kashmir, resulting in the absence of an elected assembly and limited democratic representation.
- Initial Mixed Reactions: The Leh region largely welcomed the move as liberation from Kashmir’s dominance, whereas the Kargil region opposed it due to concerns over identity, political marginalisation, and loss of linkage with Kashmir.
Core Grievances and Fears of the Ladakh Region
- Land and Job Security: The abrogation of Article 35A has opened land ownership and public employment to outsiders, creating fears of displacement and loss of local livelihood opportunities.
- Demographic Vulnerability: With nearly 90% Scheduled Tribe population, the people of Ladakh are demanding inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, so that Autonomous District Councils can be established to safeguard their land rights, cultural identity, and local governance.
- Ecological Fragility: Residents fear that externally driven, unregulated development may harm Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem, including glacier depletion and environmental degradation, due to a lack of locally sensitive governance.
Role of Sonam Wangchuk
- Advocacy: Sonam Wangchuk emerged as a key voice articulating Ladakh’s concerns, leading peaceful protests and hunger strikes demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.
- Legal Action (NSA): Following a protest that turned violent in September 2025, the government invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Wangchuk, detaining him for six months.
- Release: He was recently released after the government revoked the NSA, just three days before the Supreme Court was set to hear a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife.
Strategic and National Security Risks
- Border Sensitivity: Ladakh shares borders with both China (LAC) and Pakistan (LOC), making it a critical strategic frontier.
- The internal unrest in this region poses a direct threat to India’s national security and creates opportunities for external adversaries to exploit local discontent.
- International Influence: Suppression of peaceful protests can push sections of the local population toward radicalisation.
- Kargil’s Shifting Identity: Global geopolitical developments, such as the death of prominent leaders in Iran, resonate among Kargil’s Shia population due to deep religious and cultural ties.
- These responses may lead to local mobilisations that reflect transnational religious solidarities and, therefore, require careful, calibrated state management.
Way Forward
- Special Status: Instead of extending the Sixth Schedule, the government may explore Article 371-type special provisions to protect Ladakh’s land, employment, and cultural identity within a tailored constitutional framework.
- Expert Committee: Constitute a committee of constitutional, economic, and political experts, along with local Ladakhi representatives, to enable evidence-based and consultative decision-making.
- Dialogue and Trust: Shift from a reactive to a proactive governance approach by institutionalising continuous dialogue and ensuring the participation and consent of local communities in policymaking.
- Pragmatic Governance: Move beyond symbolic measures toward outcome-based governance that tangibly secures local livelihoods, employment opportunities, and ecological sustainability.
Conclusion
Ladakh’s stability depends on balancing national security with democratic representation and protection of local identity and ecology.
17 Mar 2026
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