UT admin to withdraw cases against 25 persons, DGP to examine remaining cases, says CS Kundra

‘LAB-KDA ‘non-negotiable’ demands forwarded to MHA; Panchayat election process soon’

YASH KHAJURIA

Leh: The Ladakh administration has decided to withdraw cases against 25 persons booked in connection with the September 24 incident, while directing the police to review other pending cases to determine whether prosecution is warranted, Chief Secretary UT Ladakh Ashish Kundra said on Thursday.

The decision, taken after discussions with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, comes amid renewed political engagement with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and marks a significant development in the administration’s efforts to address issues arising from the September 24 episode.

Addressing a media briefing, Kundra said a total of 87 persons had been booked in connection with the incident, of whom nine have been charge-sheeted after evidence was found indicating their alleged active role in inciting the crowd or committing acts connected with the incident. However, following the recent discussions, the administration decided that cases against 25 persons, where sufficient evidence of an active role was not found, would be withdrawn.

A closure report will be filed before the court in these cases. Kundra said the DGP has also been asked to undertake a further assessment of the remaining cases and identify whether there are other persons against whom there is no sustainable case, particularly those who may have merely been present at the spot without playing any active role.

The decision assumes importance as the withdrawal of cases had figured prominently in the demands raised during the recent political discussions involving representatives of LAB and KDA. Kundra said the administration had held an open discussion with representatives of the two bodies, along with other political representatives and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The meeting, he said, built upon the consensus that had emerged during the July 3 discussions on establishing a new UT-level institutional mechanism for Ladakh.

According to the Chief Secretary, the proposed mechanism is envisaged as a “sui generis” framework, meaning a model without a direct parallel elsewhere, to be developed within the constitutional framework associated with Article 371.

Representatives of LAB and KDA placed their list of demands before the government, describing them as their “non-negotiables”, and these demands have subsequently been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Kundra said the political dialogue has now entered a more structured stage, with a formal meeting of the MHA subcommittee expected in the first half of September, possibly as early as the first week. He said the Centre is examining the proposed framework in consultation with the Ministry of Law and other stakeholders, including issues concerning its composition, election mechanism and the nature of its legislative and executive powers.

He cautioned, however, that the creation of such a body would take time because the proposed arrangement involves constitutional considerations and cannot be brought into existence through an overnight administrative decision.

A detailed examination of existing constitutional models, the demands put forward by Ladakhi representatives and the aspirations of the people of the Union Territory would be required before a final framework is evolved.

At the same time, the administration has decided to proceed with grassroots democratic processes so that the prolonged constitutional dialogue does not create a democratic vacuum in Ladakh.

Kundra announced that the government will recommend to the State Election Commission that the process for panchayat elections be initiated. Electoral rolls will be revised and updated before the Commission issues the formal notification and election schedule.

He said the panchayat elections form part of a wider democratic architecture comprising panchayats, municipalities and district councils. With Ladakh having expanded from two to seven districts, the administration also intends to move towards establishing district councils in the newly created districts, as envisaged under the existing LAHDC framework. Some amendments to the existing Act may be required, and the process will be taken up subsequently.

Kundra said the administration’s approach is to ensure that democratic institutions continue to function even as discussions on the proposed UT-level body progress. He noted that residents of the newly created districts are looking forward to having elected representatives who can raise their local concerns, making the continuation and expansion of democratic institutions particularly important.

The Chief Secretary also addressed the demand for compensation to families affected by the September 24 incident and other issues raised during the political discussions. He said these matters had been discussed, while the administration’s immediate decision on the cases was to withdraw those where adequate evidence was not found and to have the remaining cases carefully reviewed.

The political developments came alongside a series of major administrative announcements. Kundra said the government had advertised 1,609 posts during 2026, with recommendations already completed for 1,340 candidates, while 325 employees had received promotions through DPCs.

Another 302 Group B and Group C posts have been advertised and 1,205 additional posts are expected to be advertised in the coming weeks. Among the vacancies already notified are 40 Sub-Inspector posts and 262 teacher posts.

On the economic front, the administration has notified a framework for land-use conversion, with powers delegated at different levels depending on the size of the landholding, and a simplified online portal is expected to be launched within one to two weeks.

Kundra said the move would help landowners seeking to use agricultural land for hotels, guest houses, resorts or industrial units and facilitate access to institutional finance.

The administration is also preparing a one-time regularisation policy for Nautor land, an issue which, according to Kundra, affects the land interests of around four lakh people. Draft rules are ready and will be placed before the Lieutenant Governor for approval before being opened to the public for comments.

The proposed mechanism would allow eligible landholders to obtain title following the requisite revenue survey and, where required, simultaneously seek land-use conversion for non-agricultural purposes.

In another significant economic measure, tourism has been accorded industry status, allowing registered tourism establishments to avail themselves of industrial electricity tariffs. Kundra said 248 tourism units have so far been registered online and that the administration is working to simplify the registration process and move towards permanent registration.

The administration has also introduced four percent reservation for sportspersons and notified a new sports policy aimed at recognising achievements at school, college, UT, national and international levels.

However, the political developments surrounding the September 24 cases and the LAB-KDA dialogue remained the most significant aspect of the Chief Secretary’s briefing, with the administration simultaneously signalling a willingness to review cases where evidence is insufficient and a readiness to engage with Ladakhi representatives on a broader institutional arrangement.

The coming weeks, particularly the proposed September meeting with the MHA subcommittee, are therefore expected to be crucial in determining the direction of the political dialogue and the future constitutional and administrative architecture of Ladakh.