Ladakh leaders say they are ready to be flexible on Sixth Schedule and statehood if...

Ladakh leaders have indicated their willingness to be flexible on the demand for the Sixth Schedule and statehood if the Centre grants a legislature or assembly to the region.

This was conveyed by the leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) during a meeting with the sub-committee of the ministry of home affairs in New Delhi.

Sharing exclusive details of the meeting with THE WEEK, Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan said the meeting was very fruitful.

“The LAB and KDA, representing social, political, and religious organisations from Leh and Kargil, informed the sub-committee that if Ladakh is granted a legislature or assembly with constitutional guarantees to protect its unique identity, they are willing to show flexibility on the demands for the Sixth Schedule and statehood,” Jan said. "If Ladakh gets a legislature, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) might cease to exist, as assemblies automatically replace such councils."

He said the next meeting of the sub-committee is expected to take place around February 15, after the ongoing parliamentary session concludes. "We agreed to reconvene around mid-February, as the Parliamentary session will have concluded by then."

Jan said the meeting covered a lot of ground on reservations, and 95 per cent of all government jobs will be reserved for the residents of Ladakh.

He said all the posts will be filled and there is a likelihood of relaxation of five to years for the applicants.

"We demanded the urgency of recruitment for all pending posts, and I am confident the process will begin without delay," the MP said.

Jan said the establishment of a separate Central Administrative Services Cell (CASC) for Ladakh was another key point of discussion. "This dedicated cell will ensure that Ladakh's administrative requirements are met efficiently," he said, adding that the demand for a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh also was discussed.

Regarding domicile concerns, he said they provided suggestions and recruitment for Grade One posts will begin soon.

The meeting also addressed other critical matters, such as land rights. "Negotiations on land and other critical issues will continue, and we expect favorable resolutions in the coming weeks," he said.

The MP said the meeting achieved progress on key issues for Ladakh. “While some matters require further deliberation, we are optimistic about achieving resolutions soon.”