Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Sep 09
Talks between the Centre and Ladakh representatives ended without a breakthrough on Wednesday but produced an in-principle understanding on a customised governance framework and an elected legislative body for the Union Territory, representatives said.
The meeting in New Delhi was convened by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and brought together senior ministry and Ladakh administration officials with representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
The participants discussed a special constitutional framework under Article 371 and a directly elected Union Territory-level body with executive, financial and legislative powers.
Ladakh leaders said statehood remained their long-term objective but agreed that establishing an elected body with defined powers should be pursued as an immediate step.
The proposed framework would cover areas including land, culture and language, forests, the environment and natural resources, according to a statement issued by the LAB and KDA.
The proposed body would also have budgetary, planning and financial powers and would work alongside existing panchayati raj institutions.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the meeting had a positive atmosphere and that participants had discussed the broad contours of a special governance model under Article 371.
Kargil Hill Council Chief Executive Councillor Muhammad Jaffar said many of the groups’ concerns over constitutional safeguards, legislative powers and administration had been addressed.
He said the government had agreed in principle that bureaucrats in Ladakh would function under an elected executive authority once the proposed framework was established.
The meeting also discussed cases registered against more than 83 people detained during protests on September 24.
Jaffar said the government had assured the delegation that the cases would be reviewed and withdrawn in phases.
The LAB and KDA, however, said some issues remained unresolved, including law and order powers. They also sought the immediate withdrawal of all cases linked to the September 2025 agitation rather than a phased process.
The government also assured the groups that a compensation package would be provided to people who died or were injured during the 2025 protests, the statement said.
A draft proposal defining the executive, financial and legislative powers of the proposed elected body will be prepared for further discussions.
The next round of talks is expected in the first week of October, when a draft Article 371 provision is expected to be discussed.
The LAB and KDA said no major irreversible changes to Ladakh’s governance arrangements or land transfers should take place before the elected Union Territory-level body is established.
They warned that such changes could prompt public protests.
