The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance formally submitted a detailed 29-page draft framework to the Ministry of Home Affairs on November 14. They demand immediate inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, restoration of full statehood with a dedicated Legislative Assembly under a new Article 371-K, and complete amnesty for all persons detained after the September 14 violence in Leh.
The document establishes that more than 90 per cent of the region’s population comprises Scheduled Tribes such as Changpa, Balti, Beda, Bot, Brokpa, Dard, Gara, Mon, and Purigpa. This demographic reality fulfills constitutional criteria under Articles 244 and 275 for Sixth Schedule safeguards already successfully implemented in tribal-dominated states including Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
The leaders argue that the 2019 decision to create a Union Territory without a legislature has caused widespread democratic disenfranchisement. They propose a 30-member Legislative Assembly with 28 seats reserved exclusively for Scheduled Tribes, retention of the existing Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court for judicial continuity, and enhanced powers to address region-specific developmental and cultural concerns.
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On strategic grounds the submission emphasises Ladakh’s critical role in national defence along the Line of Actual Control. Greater legislative autonomy will significantly bolster internal security, border vigilance, and military logistics by leveraging the unparalleled geographical knowledge of local tribal populations.
The joint leadership has demanded an unconditional general amnesty for all individuals arrested during the September 14 protests, including prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The clashes resulted in four fatalities and approximately 80 injuries. Release of all detainees is essential for creating a conducive atmosphere ahead of the next round of dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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