Srinagar, Oct 21: In a major development, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, the only elected body surviving in the Union Territory has been dissolved to clear the way for elections to eight hill councils. LAHDC Kargil was headed by CEC Dr Mohd Jaffar Akhoon.
The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has ordered the dissolution and de-constitution of the erstwhile Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, with immediate effect, in view of the reorganisation of the administrative framework of the Union Territory and the creation of new districts. The order takes into consideration the resignation of the Chief Executive Councillor, three Executive Councillors and six other Councillors of the erstwhile LAHDC Kargil on October 20, 2026. It also takes into account the reorganisation of the territorial boundaries of the erstwhile Kargil district following the creation of new districts, including Drass, Zanskar and Sankoo.
As per the order issued by the UT Administration , the Chief Executive Councillor, Executive Councillors and all elected or nominated members of the erstwhile Council shall cease to hold office and exercise powers as members of the Council with immediate effect. To ensure continuity in governance, prevent an administrative vacuum and maintain the uninterrupted delivery of public services, all powers, duties and functions previously exercised by the erstwhile LAHDC Kargil shall be vested in and administered by the Deputy Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Kargil, on an interim basis. The interim arrangement shall remain in force until separate Autonomous Hill Development Councils are fully constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, and the rules framed thereunder, as amended from time to time.
The move comes days after Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu. The notification supersedes all previous notifications regarding constitution of hill councils. On October 16, the administration also notified Sankoo as the eighth district of Ladakh and constituted LAHDC Sankoo under Section 3(1) of the LAHDC Act. Its creation automatically alters the jurisdiction of LAHDC Kargil.
While the term of LAHDC Leh ended on October 30, 2025, the term of LAHDC Kargil was scheduled to continue till October 2028. Sources said the latest notification, which supersedes earlier notifications, effectively brings the existing arrangement to an end, though there was no separate official clarification on the remaining tenure. According to officials, the UT administration proposes to conduct delimitation for all eight hill councils simultaneously, followed by elections. The elections cannot be held till April-May next year due to weather conditions, and the administration plans to hold Panchayat elections first.
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