Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the Centre was committed to providing special constitutional provisions under Article 371 for the Union Territory of Ladakh as an “exceptional case”.
Speaking at the Silver Jubilee Founder’s Day celebration of Druk Padma Karpo School in Shey, Leh district, Rijiju said the Ministry of Home Affairs was working to extend the special provisions to Ladakh under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Under Article 371, Ladakh will receive special provisions that protect your culture, your land, your traditions, and your future,” Rijiju said.
He said Ladakh was “very close to the heart” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the proposed provisions would help protect the region’s cultural identity, land and local interests.
Rijiju expressed hope that the provisions would materialise soon and that the people of Ladakh would benefit from them. He also said the Prime Minister had long wanted to visit Ladakh and interact with its people, adding that the visit could take place soon.
The Union minister said Ladakh had witnessed a major transformation over the past decade, particularly in terms of infrastructure and connectivity. He highlighted improvements in road connectivity, saying journeys between different parts of the Union Territory that earlier took days could now be completed within hours.
Referring to the recent creation of new districts in Ladakh, Rijiju said the move would benefit the local population. He also recalled that the demand for Union Territory status had remained pending for a long time before being fulfilled.
On access to justice, Rijiju said a High Court bench would be established in Ladakh in the near future, providing greater convenience to the people.
The development has since moved beyond the announcement stage. President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026, on August 27. The regulation provides the statutory framework for judges and Division Benches of the common High Court to sit in Ladakh.
The regulation, however, does not create a separate High Court for Ladakh. The principal seat of the common High Court remains unchanged, while the Chief Justice may arrange sittings within Ladakh with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor.
Rijiju also spoke about the importance of preserving Ladakh’s cultural and traditional values while addressing students at the event. He urged young people to remain connected to their roots and traditions and cautioned against blindly following trends on the internet.
He said online influences could sometimes have negative consequences and, in certain cases, contribute to violence and law-and-order problems.
Rijiju also highlighted his own background as the first Buddhist to hold a position in the Union Cabinet and said the government was committed to providing equal opportunities to minority communities.
Senior officials of the Ladakh administration and members of religious and civil society organisations were present at the event.
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