Centre proposes Lt. Governor as final authority in new Ladakh territorial body

The Centre has put forward a framework for a new territorial-level elected body in Ladakh that would place the Lieutenant Governor as the final authority over its functioning, according to details of the proposal. The draft framework, which outlines the structure and powers of the proposed body, represents the government's thinking on enhancing democratic representation in the Union Territory.

The proposal examines critical procedural questions about constituency delimitation for the elected body, specifically whether such boundaries should be determined by an election authority or through a dedicated Delimitation Commission. This decision will have direct implications on how electoral districts are drawn and representation is apportioned across Ladakh.

On the question of inclusivity, the Centre's draft explores multiple options for women's representation in the proposed body. These options range from reserving one-third of seats for women to potentially allocating up to 50 percent of seats to ensure greater gender balance in the territory's governance structure.

The proposal comes as Ladakh, which was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019, continues to develop its administrative and governance frameworks. The Centre's initiative reflects ongoing efforts to balance democratic participation with the unique administrative requirements of the mountain region.