Srinagar, Sep 03: Following crucial directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the formal notification for the establishment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) across all seven districts of the Union Territory.
The move marks a major administrative shift aimed at enhancing local governance, decentralising power, and ensuring direct regional representation in the high-altitude frontier region. Until recently, autonomous council governance was restricted exclusively to Leh and Kargil.
Following the earlier decision to carve out five new administrative districts—Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass—the administration has now moved to ensure that each district possesses its own autonomous council framework. With the official notification issued, the administration is expected to begin laying down the boundary delimitation and electoral frameworks necessary to conduct elections for the newly formed councils.
Local leaders and civil society groups have welcomed the step, viewing it as a significant movement toward democratic decentralisation and administrative empowerment across the trans-Himalayan region.Notably, The Centre, on 13 July 2026, had announced the creation of new LAHDCs in the UT of Ladakh.
The Lieutenant Governor Ladakh has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the historic step, stating that the establishment of the seven councils will decentralise and strengthen participatory local governance, allowing local aspirations and priorities to be reflected more effectively in district-level planning and development.
The development marks a significant step towards decentralisation and strengthening of grassroots governance in Ladakh. The creation of the new councils will provide institutional mechanisms for greater participation of people in matters relating to the development and administration of their respective districts.
“The creation of Autonomous Hill Development Councils in all seven districts is a milestone in strengthening grassroots governance in Ladakh. This will empower the people and enable development to be more responsive to local needs and aspirations,” LG Saxena said.
The notification issued by the Revenue Department, UT of Ladakh, says the elections to the newly constituted Councils will be held in due course after a formal notification is issued under Section 8 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.
The notification will come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
