The Centre has proposed constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under a new provision, described as Article 371(K), during talks with representatives of the Union Territory, according to a report by NDTV.
The proposal includes an elected body for Ladakh with legislative powers over specified subjects, including land, culture, language, forests and the environment.
The proposed arrangement would be different from the existing Article 371 provisions applicable to several states and would be specifically designed for Ladakh. It would also differ from the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for autonomous district councils in tribal areas of certain northeastern states.
The powers and structure of the proposed elected body are still being discussed. Issues including its financial and administrative powers have not been finalised, according to people familiar with the talks.
Ladakh has been a Union Territory without a legislature since August 2019, when the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Political and civil society groups in Ladakh have been demanding greater constitutional safeguards for the region. Their demands have included statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, protection of land and employment rights, and greater political representation.
The Centre's latest proposal does not provide for statehood and does not propose extending the existing Sixth Schedule framework to Ladakh.
The proposed constitutional provision would require approval by Parliament. Further discussions are expected to determine the final structure and powers of the proposed arrangement.
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