The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday issued new rules outlining a reservation and domicile policy for the Union Territory of Ladakh, following protests by political, religious, and social groups since 2019.
As per the notification, individuals will be recognized as domiciles of Ladakh only if they have lived in the region continuously for 15 years starting from 2019. This effectively means that non-native residents will not be eligible for domicile status until 2034.
This policy comes in the wake of the 2019 decision by the BJP-led central government to revoke Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. As a result of that move, the former state was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—leading to the loss of exclusive rights for Ladakh residents to own immovable property and access government jobs, Scroll.in reported.
The absence of a legislature in Ladakh, combined with the loss of exclusive rights over land and employment, has deepened concerns among locals about the protection of their land, natural resources, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. Many fear that the region’s delicate ecosystem and unique identity could be at risk.
Over the past five years, these anxieties have fueled repeated protests across the Union Territory, particularly over limited job opportunities and growing unemployment.
In response to these concerns, the Union government on Tuesday also announced an increase in job reservations for Scheduled Tribes in Ladakh—from 80% to 85% in government employment.
This move aims to reassure residents that employment opportunities will remain largely within the local population, especially since over 97% of Ladakh’s population belongs to Scheduled Tribes.
Since 2020, political, social, and religious groups in Ladakh have been pressing for the region’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to address growing concerns among residents in the aftermath of Article 370’s abrogation. The Sixth Schedule, outlined under Article 244, (Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas) of the Constitution guarantees certain protections for land and a nominal autonomy for citizens in designated tribal areas.
In response to several protests, the Union government established a high-powered committee in January 2023, headed by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, to address the concerns of Ladakh residents.
However, dialogue between Ladakh leaders and the Centre collapsed in March 2024.
In October, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk launched an indefinite fast to press for key demands, including statehood for Ladakh, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservations for locals, two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seats for the region.
He ended the protest after receiving assurances from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that discussions with Ladakh representatives would resume in December to address these demands under constitutional provisions aimed at safeguarding the Union Territory.
The notification issued by the Ministry on Tuesday appears to be the outcome of those renewed talks. However, it remains uncertain whether Ladakh leaders will continue to push for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.
On Tuesday, the central government also officially designated English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi as the official languages of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
In a significant move toward gender representation, the Centre, for the first time, reserved one-third of the seats for women in Ladakh’s two autonomous hill councils.
These councils—established by the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state governments in the mid-1990s and early 2000s—were created to grant Ladakh greater autonomy in its development. Members of the councils are elected directly by the people.