LEH: The Judicial Commission investigating the September 24 Leh violence has extended the deadline for submission of statements and evidence by ten days, following a request from the Apex Body Leh.
According to an official order issued on Friday through virtual mode, the Commission received a written plea on November 27 from the Co-Chairman of Apex Body Leh, citing that ‘many people’ still wish to record their statements and present evidence before the inquiry panel.
The existing deadline for submitting accounts was set to expire on November 28. After consideration, Justice (Retd.) Dr. B.S. Chauhan, who heads the Commission, granted the extension up to December 8, 2025.
The panel, tasked with probing the events surrounding the September violence, has been gathering testimonies and documentation to establish the sequence of events and determine accountability. The extension offers additional time for those yet to depose before the Commission.
Officials indicated that further steps will be taken once the Commission completes its inquiry and submits its final report.
The written request written by the Apex Body read, “We want to bring to your kind notice that there are still many people who want to give their statements and submit evidence before the Commission. In this regard, therefore you are requested to kindly extend the date for the inquiry and submission of the statements/evidence for another ten (10) days, tentatively.”
Later, Justice Dr. B.S. Chauhan, Former Judge Supreme Court of India accepted the request of the Co-Chairman Apex Body Leh and granted ten days’ time upto 8th December 2025 for submission of the statements by the persons acquainted with the subject matter of inquiry.
Judicial Secretary to Inquiry Commission at Leh, Mohạn Singh Parihar said, “Office shall inform the Co-Chairman Apex Body Leh about the extension of time. The written request and this order be placed on the record.”
In September 24 violence in Leh, four residents were killed and several others were injured including police personnel. Later, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an order for a judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence, meeting the long-standing demand of the people for justice and transparency.
Pertinent to mention here that early this week, to safeguard the independence and fairness of an ongoing Judicial Inquiry, the Inquiry Commission headed by Justice (Retd) Dr. B.S. Chauhan had issued a stern public notice warning of ‘appropriate legal action’ against any individual or entity that attempts to intimidate, coerce, threaten, harass, or otherwise obstruct witnesses or persons possessing relevant information.
The notice explicitly covers Government functionaries acting in official capacity, private individuals, governmental, semi-governmental, and non-governmental organisations.
According to a public notification issued from Melongthang Leh on October 24, “Any person who, whether acting in an official capacity as a functionary of the Government or in a private, individual capacity, or any organization-governmental, semi-governmental, non-governmental, or individuals engages in acts of intimidation, coercion, threat, inducement, harassment, or any other form of interference intended to prevent, deter, obstruct, or hinder any person acquainted with the subject matter of inquiry or having any material relating to the incident from appearing, deposing, tendering evidence, or otherwise participating freely and without apprehension in the proceedings before the Inquiry Commission, shall be liable for appropriate legal action.”
