Leh, July 13: The Ladakh administration has announced that Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) will be established in all seven districts of the Union Territory, marking a major expansion of local self-governance following the creation of five new districts earlier this year.
Addressing a press conference in Leh on Monday, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the decision represents a significant step toward democratic decentralisation and grassroots governance in Ladakh.
The move follows the Union Territory’s administrative reorganisation in April 2026, when Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass were notified as new districts, increasing Ladakh’s total number of districts from two to seven. Until now, elected district-level governance remained limited to the existing Hill Councils in Leh and Kargil.
Kundra said each of the seven districts will have a Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council with the full powers provided under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act. He noted that Section 3(1) of the Act already provides for a Council in every district, with only necessary amendments to the legislation and the delimitation of constituencies remaining before the new bodies can be constituted.
Under the proposed arrangement, the new Councils in Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass will enjoy the same powers currently exercised by the Leh Council, established in 1995, and the Kargil Council, established in 2003.
The Councils will have authority over land ownership and land allotment within their respective districts. They will also regulate recruitment and promotions for district cadre posts, giving elected district bodies control over local employment decisions.
Each Council will maintain a dedicated Council Fund and have the power to levy taxes and fees, providing an independent revenue base. The bodies will also prepare district-specific development plans, allowing local authorities to determine priorities rather than relying on decisions made in Leh or Kargil.
According to the administration, the Councils will oversee sectors including health, education, tourism, local infrastructure and social welfare schemes at the district level.
Kundra also outlined plans for creating a Union Territory-level institution above the seven Councils under a customised constitutional framework based on Article 371. The proposed body is expected to have legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers.
He said the model would have no parallel elsewhere in India and would incorporate the best features of existing governance arrangements while being tailored specifically for Ladakh.
The structure and powers of the proposed Union Territory-level body will be finalised through consultations between Ladakh’s representatives and the Government of India. Kundra indicated that some redistribution of powers between the Hill Councils and the new UT body may be considered during the process, although the establishment of the seven Councils is the first confirmed component of the proposed governance framework.
The Chief Secretary also clarified that Panchayati Raj institutions will continue to function alongside the Hill Councils, ensuring elected representation at the village, district and Union Territory levels.
