Election Process Begins for Eight New Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Ladakh
The election process for eight new Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Ladakh has commenced, enhancing local governance across the region.
Leh, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : The election process for eight new Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) in Ladakh has officially begun. On November 10, the notification was issued by the Revenue Department of the Union Territory Secretariat in Leh and published in a special edition of the Ladakh Gazette.
According to the notification, the councils are being formed under SO numbers 259 and 285, dated September 3 and October 16, 2026, respectively. The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has called for the election of members from all constituencies of the existing LAHDCs, utilizing powers granted under Section 4(2) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act of 1997 and Rule 4 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Election) Rules, 2026.
The elections will adhere to the provisions of the 1997 Act, including amendments made under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Amendment) Regulations, 2026. This notification took effect from the date of its publication in the official gazette.
With the implementation of the 2026 amendment, the Ladakh administration has established eight LAHDCs, one for each of the Union Territory’s eight districts. Previously, LAHDCs existed only in Leh and Kargil. This new structure will now provide autonomous councils in all eight districts: Leh, Kargil, Dras, Sankoo, Shyok, Changthang, Nubra, and Zanskar.
Each council will consist of 7 to 24 elected constituencies, replacing the previous similar-sized arrangement. To enhance grassroots representation, four members will be nominated from women and underrepresented communities in each council.
