Ladakh Civil Society Submits Non-Negotiable Demands for Statehood and Sixth Schedule Status Ladakh civil society representatives, campaigning for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status, submitted a list of “non-negotiable points” to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials and Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra during an informal meeting in Leh on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The meeting, organized by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), was held ahead of a likely formal discussion scheduled for the first or second week of September. The submitted demands emphasized the establishment of a democratically elected Ladakh Legislative Assembly, with constitutional safeguards for governance and financial autonomy. The civil society groups outlined their core demands, including the creation of an Assembly headed by a Chief Minister and a council of ministers. They insisted that the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory must act on the advice of the elected Assembly to avoid conflicts akin to those observed in other Union Territories. The proposals also called for the Assembly to hold meaningful control over taxation, budgeting, appropriation, expenditure, borrowing, and public funds, including constitutionally protected Consolidated and Contingency Funds. The representatives stressed that the U.T.-level legislature must be directly elected and constitutionally empowered, with Home Affairs placed under the democratic control of the elected government. They further demanded the establishment of a separate Public Service Commission, along with distinct administrative and police services for Ladakh. LAB president Chering Dorjay Lakrook highlighted the urgency of these reforms, stating that the informal meeting was a prelude to the formal talks.#ministry_of_home_affairs #leh_apex_body #kargil_democratic_alliance #ladakh_civil_society #ladakh_chief_secretary
