Centre revises Ladakh Hill Council structure, sets elected seats between 7 and 24

New regulation updates electoral rules, nomination provisions and council powers; State Election Commission to oversee polls

NEW DELHI/LEH: The Centre has amended the legal and administrative framework governing Ladakh’s Autonomous Hill Development Councils, revising their composition, electoral provisions and powers to align the 1997 law with the Union Territory’s administrative structure following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu on October 16, provides for between seven and 24 elected members in each council, with the number to be determined by the Ladakh Administration. The regulation was issued under Article 240 of the Constitution read with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

The regulation also provides for the nomination of up to four members from among women and unrepresented communities, subject to the prescribed population-related limit. The sitting Member of Parliament representing Ladakh will be an ex-officio member of the councils constituted for the districts.

Each council will have a five-year term from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless dissolved earlier. The term may be extended if holding elections is considered impracticable.

Changes to electoral framework

The amended provisions place the superintendence, direction and control of council elections and electoral rolls with the State Election Commission for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Election disputes may be challenged through election petitions filed directly before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh within 45 days of the declaration of results.

The regulation also replaces references to “State” and “Governor” in the principal Act with “Union territory of Ladakh” and “Administrator”, respectively, bringing the terminology in line with Ladakh’s status as a Union Territory.

Councils to exercise district-level Panchayat powers

The amended law defines the areas covered by the councils to include Leh, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Kargil, Zanskar and Drass, as well as any districts created subsequently.

It also provides that the councils will exercise the powers of Panchayats at the district level under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, giving them a defined role in district-level local governance.

The regulation further revises provisions concerning council meetings, executive council composition, financial matters and the exercise of powers relating to land and development planning.

The regulation will come into force on a date appointed by the Administrator through a notification in the Official Gazette. Its promulgation therefore does not, by itself, establish the commencement date of all the amended provisions.