Srinagar, Sep 15: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has restrained the Ladakh administration from creating any third-party interest in 1,076 kanals and one marla of land at Phyang Thang in Leh, which was allotted to the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) in 2018 before being cancelled by the authorities.
Justice Sanjay Dhar passed the interim direction while hearing a petition filed by HIAL through its co-founder and CEO, Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
The court also issued notice to the respondents on the petition challenging the cancellation of the land allotment.
The dispute concerns an order issued on August 21, 2025, by the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, cancelling the allotment of the land.
The land had been allotted to HIAL on May 5, 2018, for setting up an alternative university focused on mountain development. The allotment, covering 1,076 kanals and one marla, was for 40 years, subject to execution of a lease deed and completion of other formalities.
In its petition, HIAL submitted that it had applied for execution of the lease deed within 15 days of the allotment and subsequently initiated infrastructure development and academic activities at the site.
The institute claimed that possession of the land had been handed over to it and that the delay in executing the lease deed was attributable to the authorities.
HIAL further submitted that the process remained pending following Ladakh’s transition into a Union Territory and the Covid-19 pandemic, amid administrative changes and the proposed formulation of a new lease policy.
The petition also referred to official communications which, according to HIAL, permitted it to continue construction and other developmental activities while lease formalities were being processed.
Appearing for HIAL, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, assisted by Advocates Rahil Raja, Bahuli Sharma, Dilawar Khan and Susan Maria Mathew, argued that the cancellation order was legally unsustainable as the delay in executing the lease deed was allegedly due to the authorities.
The Ladakh administration was represented by Deputy Solicitor General of India Vishal Sharma and Central Government Standing Counsel Eishaan Dadhichi.
After hearing the matter, the court issued notice to the respondents. Dadhichi accepted notice on their behalf and sought time to file a reply, which was granted.
The court directed that the respondents shall not create any third-party interest in the disputed land, subject to objections from the other side and until the next date of hearing.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 21, 2026.
