Public objections invited till Nov 2; notifications cover constituency boundaries and village-wise divisions across the newly created councils
YASH KHAJURIA
LEH: The Ladakh Administration has published notifications detailing the proposed constituency boundaries of the newly created Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), with the State Election Commission inviting suggestions and objections from the public until November 2.
The notifications were issued by the State Election Commission on October 23, following the creation of new councils and the determination of their total number of seats by the UT Administration. The publication has come into force from October 23, according to an order issued by the General Administration Department.
The proposed boundaries cover the councils of Leh, Kargil, Sankoo, Drass, Zanskar, Changthang, Nubra and Sham. The annexures list constituencies, the panchayat halqas or municipal wards they comprise, and the villages falling within each panchayat area.
Under the notification, objections and suggestions must be submitted to the designated officials between 10 am and 4 pm on working days, no later than November 2. Submissions can be made in person or through other means to the officers concerned.
For Leh, submissions may be made to the Deputy Commissioner or designated Block Development Officers in Leh, Chuchot, Kharu, Nimoo and Thiksay. For Kargil, the designated offices include the Deputy Commissioner and Block Development Officers in Kargil, Sodh, Pashkum, Shakar-Chiktan, Shargole and other specified areas.
Separate lists of designated officers have been provided for the remaining councils. The Commission has stated that objections received after the deadline will not be considered.
The notification cites the LAHDC (Election) Rules, 2026, which require constituency boundaries to be determined with regard to geographical contiguity, compactness, population, administrative convenience and seasonal inaccessibility. The Commission is to consider suggestions and objections before finalising its recommendations.
The publication marks a step in the process of delimiting constituencies for the newly created councils. The notifications do not announce an election schedule.
On October 21, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had notified 100 constituencies for the eight LAHDCs, nearly doubling the existing strength of 52 seats.
Under the new structure notified under the LAHDC (Amendment) Regulation 2026, Leh will have 22 constituencies, Kargil 21, Sankoo 13, Changthang 10, Nubra, Sham and Zanskar nine each, and Drass seven.
