Kashmir Impulse Desk

Leh, Aug 3

The Ladakh administration has raised concerns with the Ministry of Home Affairs over alleged irregularities involving the registration and functioning of the Ladakh Women Cooperative Society Ltd, officials said on Monday.

The administration’s General Administration Department flagged the matter in a July 30 letter to the MHA’s additional secretary after examining official records, the officials said.

According to the records, IAS officer Prasanna Ramaswamy and his spouse, Abhilasha Bahuguna, were listed as co-founders of the society while Ramaswamy was serving as Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

The records also show that Ramaswamy became chairman of the society while serving as Leh’s deputy commissioner from 2015 to 2017, as the society’s Articles of Association designated the deputy commissioner as its ex-officio chairman.

The administration said its records did not show prior approval from the competent authority for the association.

The society later received grants, contributions and institutional support from government and non-government sources, including assistance from NABARD and corporate social responsibility funding, officials said.

The administration also raised concerns about the society’s application to register “Ladakh Pashmina Textiles” as a geographical indication.

Officials said departmental records did not show approval from the competent authority for the application, while a 2025 examination by the GI Registry had recommended a broader institutional framework and identified deficiencies requiring correction. The matter has been referred to the MHA for consideration and appropriate action, officials said.