Aryan Valley, Phey, Thasgam among New Tehsils notified in Ladakh
LEH: Former Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson, on Friday welcomed the Ladakh Administration’s decision to notify new tehsils across five districts and establish the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) for Durbuk, saying the measures would bring administration closer to people and improve access to public services in remote areas.
In a statement, Gyalson congratulated residents of Aryan Valley, Thasgam in Drass, Phey in Zanskar, Himya and Rong in Changthang, and Sodh in Kargil on the creation of the new tehsils. He also welcomed the decision concerning Durbuk and thanked Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for addressing long-standing demands for improved administrative accessibility.
The Revenue Department notification, dated October 16, was issued under Section 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, 1996, as applicable to Ladakh. It reorganises tehsils and revenue villages, following earlier notifications issued in April and July 2026.
Under the notification, Aryan Valley tehsil in Sham district will comprise Dha-Bema, Hanu, Garkone and Darchiks, while Sodh tehsil in Kargil district will include Yourbaltak, Akchamal, Apatee, Tumail, Barchey, Silmoo, Lalung and Chulichan.
In Zanskar district, Phey tehsil will comprise Rangdum, Phey, Remala-Skagam, Hamiling, Abran, Akshow, Atting, Rantaksha and Tungri. Thasgam tehsil in Drass district will include Thasgam, Jasgund, Kharboo and Shamisha.
Himya tehsil in Changthang district will comprise Tukla, Liktsé, Tarchit, Kungyam, Teri and Himya.
The notification states that the listed revenue villages will cease to form part of their existing tehsils and become part of the newly constituted tehsils once the order comes into force. The changes will take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Separately, the administration has entrusted the powers of the ADC, Durbuk, to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Durbuk, to strengthen local administration and facilitate timely delivery of public services. The order was issued by direction of the Lieutenant Governor and signed by Shurbir Singh, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary, Revenue, UT of Ladakh.
Gyalson said the Durbuk decision followed an earlier order establishing the new tehsil and reflected the administration’s focus on administrative convenience and local governance. He also thanked Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and Divisional Commissioner Shurbir Singh for their role in addressing demands for improved administrative access.
He said the new tehsils would strengthen the administrative framework in rural areas and make government services more accessible to residents.
