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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Ladakh, Centre's notifications go a long way in addressing demands of people
Since 2019 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the leaders from the Union Territory of Ladakh have demanded constitutional protections for land ownership, economic opportunities, preserving tribal cultures and languages, and a more representative government. Each of these clusters of demands is rooted in the unique historical and demographic profile of the region, and the promise — both explicit and implicit — at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 was that they would be addressed. Earlier this week, a slew of notifications by the central government moved the needle significantly on many of the demands from Ladakh, especially around domicile-based government jobs, protection and promotion of languages and quotas. Welcome as they are, these orders should be followed in due course by measures that ensure a deepening of representative democracy in Ladakh and assuage some of the anxieties around land rights. The Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation introduces a domicile requirement for government jobs: To be eligible, a person must have resided in Ladakh for 15 years or appeared in Class X or Class XII examinations in the UT. The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation has placed a cap of 85 per cent on reservation, excluding the EWS quota. This, in effect, provides nearly blanket reservation for local people (the UT has a 90 per cent Scheduled Tribe population). The Centre has also recognised English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi as official languages of the Union Territory, in addition to facilitating other mechanisms for promoting and protecting the region's culture and heritage. Bhoti and Purgi are spoken by a majority of the population, and their long-delayed recognition has been a demand for many years. There is no gainsaying the fact that the Centre and the armed forces have — and will continue to have — a deep interest and presence in Ladakh. The UT borders both Pakistan and China and has been a military flashpoint with both countries — in Kargil with Pakistan in 1999, and the border clashes with China from 2020 to 2024. In addition, vast swathes of land in the region are important for the country's renewable energy goals. These imperatives, however, cannot negate the underlying principles of democracy. The demand from many in Ladakh was the area's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution — like parts of the Northeast — which allows for significant autonomy. The Centre, on its part, has sought to provide protections through its orders. But it does not seem to have engaged with the demand for restrictions on people from outside owning land. Even more glaring in its absence is a greater devolution of powers to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs). Currently, these local elected bodies have no legislative powers and few administrative ones. Ladakh, like the rest of the erstwhile state of J&K, deserves some form of representative government. As the Centre and the local leadership negotiate the next steps on the political architecture for the UT, giving its people a voice should be paramount.
The Print
6 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Ladakh gets long-awaited new policies on reservation and domicile, but statehood remains a concern
One third of the seats in hill councils have been reserved for women. Additionally, the official languages of the UT will be regional languages, including Bhoti and Purg, besides English, Hindi and Urdu. Others, including central government officials posted there, will have to show that they have been residing in the UT continuously for 15 years from 31 October, 2019 to be considered 'domiciles'. New Delhi: Ensuring constitutional safeguards for Ladakhi people—a long-standing demand—the Union government Tuesday notified new reservation and domicile policies, giving them an 85 percent quota in government jobs. President Droupadi Murmu Tuesday notified the Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, which amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 in Ladakh's context. This substitutes an earlier section in the 2004 Act, which pegged the reservation for local persons at 50 percent. 'The total percentage of reservation shall in no case exceed 85 percent, excluding reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS),' the notification read. Three other Regulations were notified by President Murmu—Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025, Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025. Also Read: Facing a shortage, Modi govt tweaks empanelment criteria to attract more IAS officers to Centre 'Implementation must begin soon' Speaking to ThePrint, Sajjad Kargili of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, who has been part of the discussions between the Centre and Ladakh civil society groups over their demands, welcomed the decision. The next move should be to notify vacancies to fill up posts as there is rising unemployment in the UT that needs to be addressed soon, he said. 'We have been talking about growing unemployment, and that is a crisis which needs to be tackled at the earliest. There have been no recruitments for the last five years. Now the responsibility lies with the UT administration. We are happy that this decision was taken. This is, however, just a step forward, and the implementation on the ground has to begin,' he told ThePrint. The Rules governing the Regulation are yet to be notified, and will specify the categories covered under reservation. According to the 2011 census, around 80 percent of Ladakh's population (2.74 lakh) is tribal. The total reservation for government jobs in Ladakh now stands at 95 percent—including 10 percent for EWS—among the highest in the country. 'Statehood remains key concern' The transition of Ladakh into a Union Territory, following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (of which Ladakh was a part), had initially elicited celebrations among residents as they had always accused the J&K leadership of being discriminatory and ignorant towards their region. Residents had expected better administration, representation in Parliament, access to government funds and resources, and a heightened focus on development. But soon after the central government declared Ladakh a UT without a legislature, voices in the region began demanding autonomy, jobs and safeguards for their land and culture, leading to a full-blown protest with thousands joining activist Sonam Wangchuk in his hunger strike last year. Speaking about the changes in the Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025, Kargili said that although they are happy about the inclusion of Purgi in the list, Shina and Balti were kept out. 'It is disappointing that Shina and Balti, which are mostly spoken in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan, were kept out. Their omission deserves serious reconsideration,' he said. He added that while the new policies will fulfill some of the broader expectations, the primary concern for Ladakhis remains the grant of full statehood. 'Our struggle for our own public service commission, statehood, Sixth schedule, and separate parliamentary seats for Ladakh and Kargil, shall continue.' (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Days after UPSC refused elevation to IAS, 2 'charge-sheeted' HCS officers get plum posts in Haryana
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Act north: on the needs of Ladakh
The measures notified by the Centre on June 3 seek to address the several concerns that have been raised by the people of Ladakh regarding their language, culture and land. These issues came to the fore after the special status of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), under Article 370, was withdrawn in 2019 and it was bifurcated into Union Territories (UT). New policies on reservation, languages, domicile and composition of hill councils for the UT of Ladakh include a provision for up to 85% reservation for indigenous people in government jobs. Further clarity is expected when the rules are framed. Several States in the Northeast have reservation above 80% for indigenous people in various sectors — for instance, Mizoram has 92%, and Arunachal Pradesh has 80% in jobs. To be counted as a domicile of Ladakh, a person must have a continuous 15-year stay from 2019 in Ladakh. This means that migrants in Ladakh, after it lost its special status in 2019, will be considered for domicile only after 2034. The comparable provision in the UT of J&K considers anyone who has completed 15 years as a registered migrant eligible for domicile. In hill councils, one-third of the seats will be reserved for women, as per the policy. English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi languages will be the official languages. These measures fall short of the demands that civil society organisations in Ladakh have been raising. They want full Statehood, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution which provides for special protection for tribespeople in several parts of the country, a second seat in the Lok Sabha and the constitution of a public service commission. While Ladakh, with a population of 2.74 lakh (2011 Census) has been demanding constitutional safeguards to protect its identity, culture and land, the lack of jobs and employment opportunities for the youth were at the heart of protests witnessed by the Union Territory in the past five years. A parliamentary panel was informed by the Union Home Ministry earlier this year that none of the 1,275 gazetted posts in Ladakh has been filled since the region became a centrally administered territory in 2019. The sustained campaign by the Ladakhis, both in Kargil and Leh, forced the government to form a high-powered committee in 2023, headed by Minister of State Nityanand Rai, to look into their demands. Ladakh is strategically located at the junction of India, Pakistan and China, where both neighbours have border disputes with India. Recent developments have demonstrated that both these countries often act in tandem. It is imperative that New Delhi pays close attention to the sentiments of the region.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Ladakh announces new domicile, job reservation and language policies
The government on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile polices for the Union Territory of Ladakh, reserving 85 per cent jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi languages have been made the official languages in Ladakh. The move is aimed at safeguarding local interests as people in Ladakh have been protesting for constitutional safeguards to protect their language, culture and land after the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. The changes in the policies for reservation in jobs, autonomous councils, domicile and languages will come into effect from Tuesday, according to multiple notifications issued by the government. Under the new rules, those who have resided for a period of 15 years in the UT or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examination in an educational institution located in the UT shall be domicile of Ladakh for the purposes of appointment to any post under the UT or under a local or other authority other than cantonment board. Children of central government officials, All India Services Officers, officials of Public Sector Undertaking and autonomous body of central government, Public Sector Banks, officials of statutory bodies, officials of central universities and recognised research institutes of central government who have served in the UT for a total period of 10 years are also eligible for domicile. Reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections continues to be 10 per cent. In another notification, the government said that in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, not less than one-third of the total number of seats in the Councils shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies. The rotation of constituencies reserved for women shall be made on the basis of serial number allotted to each constituencies by notification in the official gazette. Ladakh has two autonomous hill development councils - the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil. Domicile certificate will be valid only for the purpose of appointment to the posts under the UT of Ladakh as defined in the Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation, 2025. Besides making English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi as the official languages of Ladakh, the government said English shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the UT for which it was being used before the date of commencement of this regulation. The administrator of the UT will also take such necessary steps to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for the promotion and development of other languages in Ladakh and the establishment of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Special efforts will be made for the promotion and development of other native languages of Ladakh like Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi. According to the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, Jammu and Kashmir has been made a UT with a legislative assembly and Ladakh a UT without any assembly. The BJP-led Centre had assured a delegation from Ladakh in December 2023 that it was committed to fast-tracking the development of the UT and meeting the aspirations of the people in the region. Subsequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs formed a High Powered Committee (HPC) for Ladakh under Union Minister of State Nityanand Rai's chairmanship to discuss measures needed to protect the region's unique culture and language, taking into consideration its geographical location and strategic importance. The HPC was given mandate to discuss ways for protection of land and employment, measures for inclusive development and employment generation in the region, measures related to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil and constitutional safeguards that could be provided. Several organisations of Ladakh were demanding a separate UT for the region for decades and the demand was fulfilled on August 5, 2019. However, many people of Ladakh were not happy after losing the rights to elect their representatives to the legislative assembly. In August 2024, the Centre created five new districts in the UT of new districts were Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang. Being a UT, Ladakh comes under the direct administrative control of the union home ministry. In October 2024, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also sat on an indefinite fast in Delhi to press for their demands After that, talks were held with civil society leaders from Ladakh on December 3, 2024 and again on January 15 this year and on May 27.
News18
7 days ago
- Business
- News18
New Reservation, Domicile Rules In Ladakh: 85% Job Quota For Locals
Last Updated: The rotation of constituencies reserved for women shall be made on the basis of serial number allotted to each constituency by notification in the official gazette The government on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile policies for the Union Territory of Ladakh, reserving 85 per centof jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi languages have been made the official languages in Ladakh. The move is aimed at safeguarding local interests as people in Ladakh have been protesting for constitutional safeguards to protect their language, culture and land after the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. The changes in the policies for reservation in jobs, autonomous councils, domicile and languages will come into effect from Tuesday, according to multiple notifications issued by the government. Under the new rules, those who have resided for a period of 15 years in the UT or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examination in an educational institution located in the UT shall be domicile of Ladakh for the purposes of appointment to any post under the UT or under a local or other authority other than cantonment board. Children of central government officials, All India Services Officers, officials of Public Sector Undertaking and autonomous body of central government, Public Sector Banks, officials of statutory bodies, officials of central universities and recognised research institutes of central government who have served in the UT for a total period of 10 years are also eligible for domicile. Reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections continues to be 10 per cent. The rotation of constituencies reserved for women shall be made on the basis of serial number allotted to each constituency by notification in the official gazette. Ladakh has two autonomous hill development councils – the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil. Domicile certificate will be valid only for the purpose of appointment to the posts under the UT of Ladakh as defined in the Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation, 2025. Besides making English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi as the official languages of Ladakh, the government said English shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the UT for which it was being used before the date of commencement of this regulation. The administrator of the UT will also take such necessary steps to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for the promotion and development of other languages in Ladakh and the establishment of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Special efforts will be made for the promotion and development of other native languages of Ladakh like Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi. According to the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, Jammu and Kashmir has been made a UT with a legislative assembly and Ladakh a UT without any assembly. The BJP-led Centre had assured a delegation from Ladakh in December 2023 that it was committed to fast-tracking the development of the UT and meeting the aspirations of the people in the region. Subsequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs formed a High Powered Committee (HPC) for Ladakh under Union Minister of State Nityanand Rai's chairmanship to discuss measures needed to protect the region's unique culture and language, taking into consideration its geographical location and strategic importance. The HPC was given mandate to discuss ways for protection of land and employment, measures for inclusive development and employment generation in the region, measures related to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil and constitutional safeguards that could be provided. Several organisations of Ladakh were demanding a separate UT for the region for decades and the demand was fulfilled on August 5, 2019. However, many people of Ladakh were not happy after losing the rights to elect their representatives to the legislative assembly. In August 2024, the Centre created five new districts in the UT of new districts were Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang. Being a UT, Ladakh comes under the direct administrative control of the union home ministry. In October 2024, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also sat on an indefinite fast in Delhi to press for their demands After that, talks were held with civil society leaders from Ladakh on December 3, 2024 and again on January 15 this year and on May 27. (with PTI inputs) About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter -- First Published:
