CS Kundra Reviews Compliance Reduction Drive, Calls for Faster Regulatory Reforms in Ladakh

Leh, Jan 28: Emphasising that regulatory reform is critical for improving governance and service delivery, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Wednesday chaired a comprehensive review meeting on the ongoing Compliance Reduction and Deregulation exercise across government departments.

The Chief Secretary said the initiative must result in tangible improvements on the ground through simplified rules, elimination of avoidable procedures and more responsive administrative systems. He stressed that compliance reduction should go beyond paperwork and translate into faster approvals, clearer processes and enhanced transparency for citizens and businesses.

Senior officers from concerned departments attended the meeting, which reviewed existing regulatory frameworks and explored opportunities to ease compliance burdens. A detailed presentation outlined priority areas identified under the deregulation programme along with a phased action plan for implementation.

The presentation flagged sectors requiring immediate reforms and highlighted department-specific challenges. Proposed measures focused on streamlining internal processes, reducing repetitive approvals and improving inter-departmental coordination. A structured roadmap was also shared, detailing timelines, coordination mechanisms and monitoring systems to track progress.

The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of leveraging digital platforms to minimise physical interfaces and ensure predictable service delivery. He reviewed department-wise action plans, assessed progress achieved so far and identified regulatory issues requiring early intervention.

Directing departments to adhere strictly to implementation timelines, Kundra emphasised accountability and the need for periodic review of regulations to ensure reforms keep pace with the Union Territory’s administrative and developmental requirements.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Secretary held a separate interaction with stakeholders to review practical challenges related to compliance and regulation. Discussions focused on strengthening the online portal for tourism-related services, simplifying hotel registration processes, streamlining certification renewals and addressing regulatory issues affecting businesses.

Stakeholders highlighted procedural delays and suggested practical solutions. Officials said the feedback would help remove bottlenecks, improve transparency and create a more facilitative environment, particularly for the tourism and allied sectors.

Reiterating the importance of sustained engagement, Kundra said departments must remain proactive, ensure transparent implementation and continuously review regulations to meet Ladakh’s evolving governance needs.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary also chaired a high-level review to assess progress on decriminalising select statutes and regulatory provisions, aimed at easing compliance and improving administrative efficiency.

At the meeting held in Leh, Kundra examined a comparative brief detailing existing legal provisions, the nature of offences, penalties and current jurisdictional processes. Officers presented proposed amendments to replace minor criminal provisions with civil liabilities, a move intended to foster a more citizen-friendly regulatory environment.

Discussions also covered the Bovine Breeding Regulation, with the Chief Secretary stressing the need for strict enforcement while safeguarding local interests and promoting sustainable livestock development. The review further examined provisions under the BNSS framework to ensure alignment with the broader agenda of legal reform and streamlined governance.

Calling for effective execution, Kundra directed departments to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and ensure timely and transparent rollout of approved reforms.

Senior officials present included Administrative Secretaries Sanjit Rodrigues, PT Rudra Goud, Bhupesh Chaudhary, Shashanka Ala and Bhanu Prabha, along with Heads of Departments and other senior officers.