Ladakh Congress calls Nautor Land Rules ‘suicidal’, flags impact on Land rights

Leaders urged residents to scrutinise the proposed rules and file objections, warning that some provisions could affect traditional landholders, poor families, monasteries and religious institutions.

LEH: The Congress in Ladakh on Wednesday called for a review of the proposed Nautor Land Regularisation Rules, warning that provisions in the framework could affect the land rights of traditional landholders, poor families, monasteries and religious and institutional bodies.

Addressing a press conference in Leh, Congress leader Tundup Nurboo, flanked by former Leader of Opposition in the Leh Hill Development Council Tsering Namgyal and other senior party workers, described the proposed rules as “suicidal” for the people of Ladakh and urged residents to examine the notification before submitting their objections and suggestions.

The party’s principal objection centred on the potential impact of the proposed regularisation framework on existing landholding arrangements and sections of society that depend on such land.

The Congress said the Revenue Department’s notification has been placed in the public domain to invite comments and objections. It urged people across Ladakh to study the provisions carefully and use the consultation process to record their concerns before the rules are finalised.

The party maintained that any framework governing Nautor land must adequately account for the interests of traditional landholders and economically vulnerable families, besides safeguarding land associated with monasteries and other religious and institutional bodies.

The Congress also called for wider public scrutiny of the proposed provisions, saying decisions concerning land in Ladakh require careful consideration because of the region’s distinct landholding patterns and limited land resources.

The issue has emerged against the backdrop of sustained political demands in Ladakh for stronger safeguards over land, employment and the region’s cultural and demographic interests since it became a Union Territory in 2019.

While the proposed rules are presently at the consultation stage, the Congress urged residents to submit their feedback within the prescribed period rather than wait until the framework is finalised. The party’s intervention is likely to intensify the debate over land regulation in Ladakh, with political groups and civil society organisations closely watching the Administration’s proposed framework.

The Congress reiterated that public participation in the ongoing consultation would be crucial in determining how the proposed Nautor land regularisation mechanism ultimately affects traditional land rights and vulnerable sections of society.