Centre revamps Ladakh hill council rules with flexible seat allocation

The Centre has revised the legislative framework for the Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Ladakh, modernising administrative structures and electoral provisions under the new Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation. The amendments align the councils' operations with provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which transformed Ladakh into a Union territory. Under the revised rules, the number of elected representatives in each council will be determined by the Ladakh administration, with flexibility to appoint anywhere between seven and 24 members depending on local requirements and circumstances. The administration retains authority to nominate up to four additional members from among women and "unrepresented communities," subject to the constraint that such nominations cannot exceed one-sixth of the total council population. The regulation also designates the sitting Lok Sabha member representing Ladakh as an ex-officio member of both district councils. Each council will operate on a standard five-year term commencing from the date of its first meeting, with provisions allowing for earlier dissolution if necessary. The regulation further permits extension of the council term in circumstances where conducting elections is deemed impracticable, providing administrative flexibility during exceptional circumstances.