HPC to Meet on Oct 6 in Delhi, Sixth Schedule, Statehood on Agenda
Yash Khajruia
Leh, Sept 20: After months of stalled dialogue, the Union government has scheduled a high-stakes meeting of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh for October 6 in New Delhi, reviving negotiations over statehood, Sixth Schedule protections, and broader constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.
According to an official communiqué obtained by The Earth News, the Ministry of Home Affairs will convene the session at Kartavya Bhavan, with the Ladakh Section tasked to oversee preparations. The HPC, constituted to examine Ladakh’s administrative and constitutional concerns, is expected to deliberate on demands that have dominated the region’s political discourse since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
The Committee last met on May 27 under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. At that meeting, representatives of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance pressed for constitutional guarantees, the creation of an independent Public Service Commission, and enhanced parliamentary representation. The October session, originally planned for May 20 but delayed due to procedural adjustments, now carries heightened political weight after a four-month hiatus.
At the core of the discourse remain the grievances rooted in Ladakh’s reconfiguration as a Union Territory without a legislature. The absence of constitutional safeguards for land, jobs, and cultural identity has fuelled persistent demands, often modeled on protections extended under the Sixth Schedule in several northeastern states. These concerns have become a rallying point for both political parties and grassroots organizations.
The momentum intensified following climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 35-day hunger strike, which began on September 9 and drew nationwide attention to Ladakh’s call for self-governance. Leaders of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance have reiterated that only constitutional guarantees can shield Ladakh from external economic and political pressures.
However, political rifts have already surfaced ahead of the October 6 talks. The Congress Party’s Ladakh unit has announced its withdrawal from the Committee, citing objections over what it described as “competing interests.” Senior leader Smanla Dorjey argued that Congress would not obstruct negotiations but accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of manipulating former MP Thupstan Chhewang’s resignation reference to justify partisan participation. Dorjey further asserted that local Congress leaders were willing to forgo political positions if it meant advancing the broader cause of statehood and Sixth Schedule recognition.
In a pointed critique of the BJP, Dorjey questioned the inclusion of LAHDC Chairman Tashi Gyalson in the talks, claiming it reflected the very “competing interests” the BJP had accused others of harboring. He cautioned against attempts to dilute Ladakh’s demands, recalling the earlier domicile controversy, where an assurance of 1989 as the reference year was later revised to a 15-year cut-off. “This time, Ladakh will not tolerate political maneuvering,” Dorjey warned. “The aspiration is clear—only the Sixth Schedule can carry these talks forward.”
Amid this turbulence, former MP Thupstan Chhewang has rejoined the dialogue process at the request of the Leh Apex Body, adding weight to the upcoming round of negotiations. His return is seen as an effort by regional stakeholders to consolidate bargaining power in the face of what they perceive as the Centre’s evasive posture.
Analysts suggest the forthcoming deliberations could reverberate beyond Ladakh, influencing the federal government’s approach to other Union Territories such as Puducherry and Chandigarh. While officials remain guarded about specifics, government insiders admit that the October 6 meeting is designed to recalibrate engagement with Ladakh’s leadership at a moment when the balance between national integration and regional autonomy remains precarious.
As preparations gather pace, all eyes now turn to New Delhi, where the High Powered Committee will hold negotiations over contentious issues hampering Ladakh’s decade-long struggle for constitutional safeguard to move closer to resolution.
