UT Admin holds consultative meeting held with former public representatives, experts, religious leaders and stakeholder groups to seek wider views on Nautor Land Rules 2026*
LEH: The proposed Nautor framework will provide greater legal clarity to eligible historical landholders, facilitate productive use of agricultural land and enable access to institutional credit, including bank loans, subject to applicable norms, Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, said on Wednesday.
Kundra made the remarks while chairing a consultative meeting with prominent citizens, former public representatives, subject experts, religious leaders, representatives of socio-religious organisations and political groups in Leh to deliberate on issues concerning the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Nautor Regularisation) Rules, 2026.
He said the framework would also help address longstanding historical and revenue-record issues relating to Nautor land, while stressing that its implementation would have to balance the interests of genuine occupants with the broader public interest.
The consultation was convened to obtain wider stakeholder views on the proposed Nautor framework, particularly on regularisation of eligible historical occupation, tenancy and proprietary rights, land-use regulation, field verification, eligibility criteria and the role of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs).
Divisional Commissioner Ladakh Shubhir Singh briefed participants on key provisions of the Nautor Rules, including categorisation of Mustaqil and Gair Mustaqil tenancy, verification of eligible occupation, the prescribed cut-off date, and provisions relating to proprietary rights and leasehold arrangements. He also explained the procedure for verification and processing of eligible cases by revenue authorities and the concerned LAHDCs.
The detailed consultation saw participants flag several issues concerning the historical character of Nautor land, tenancy and ownership rights, old allotments, agricultural and pastoral land, and land located in remote and nomadic areas. Concerns were also raised over cases where historical occupation may not have been adequately reflected in revenue records.
Stakeholders sought greater clarity on the transition from tenancy or occupancy rights to proprietary rights, land-use conversion, regularisation charges, leasehold provisions and eligibility of existing occupants. They also stressed the need for safeguards against misuse or encroachment and called for adequate field verification before cases are finalised.
Particular attention was drawn to land associated with monasteries, mosques, schools and other religious and community institutions. Participants also emphasised the need to protect genuine historical occupants while ensuring that agricultural, pastoral and environmentally sensitive land is not diverted in an unregulated manner.
Suggestions were made for making the framework practical, transparent and responsive to Ladakh’s distinct historical and geographical circumstances. Stakeholders also called for wider awareness among residents, particularly those living in rural and remote areas, before implementation.
Kundra said the Administration was examining the Nautor issue with the objective of establishing a clear, transparent and legally sustainable framework for genuine historical cases while safeguarding public land and regulating future land use.
He assured participants that the concerns and suggestions emerging from the consultation would be examined by the concerned revenue, legal and administrative authorities. He said further consultations would continue and necessary examination and refinement of the framework would be undertaken before its further implementation.
Underlining the wider implications of the issue, the Chief Secretary said Nautor land had important historical, livelihood, agricultural and socio-economic dimensions and therefore required a balanced approach based on legal provisions, revenue records and ground realities.
The meeting was attended by former CECs and MLAs of LAHDC Leh, former councillors, retired revenue and administrative officers, representatives of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Anjuman Imamia Leh, monasteries, Christian communities and other stakeholder organisations.
Kundra also briefed the gathering on ongoing discussions concerning Ladakh’s broader administrative and constitutional framework. He said discussions between representatives of the Apex Body Leh and Kargil and the Ministry of Home Affairs were continuing, with various demands and issues concerning Ladakh under examination at the appropriate level.
