Centre and Ladakh Leaders Discuss New Land Policy

Table of Contents

Background

Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held discussions with Ladakhi leaders to address issues related to land policy and domicile status.
Historical Perspective: The practice of cultivating wastelands, known as ‘Nautor’, dates back to 1932, initiated by Hari Singh, the erstwhile king of Jammu and Kashmir.
Recent Protests: Ladakh has witnessed multiple protests since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and turned Ladakh into a Union Territory without a Legislative Assembly.

Key Points Discussed

Nautor Land Regularisation

Proposal: MHA is considering regularising vast areas of government land (Nautor land) in the names of local residents.
Impact: This move aims to secure local resource control and alleviate fears of outsiders taking over the fragile region’s resources.
Current Status: Leh district has over 14,400 acres of Nautor land. Information for Kargil division is not available.

Domicile Policy

Consensus Reached:
- 95% of government jobs reserved for permanent residents or natives of Ladakh.
- Outsiders (domiciles) can apply for 5% of government jobs, but cannot purchase land or property.
Proposed Changes:
- Increase the domicile cut-off period from 15 to 20 years of continuous stay.
- No recruitment for gazetted posts in Ladakh since it became a Union Territory.
Implementation: Discussions are ongoing with the Law Department to formulate procedures for granting domicile certificates.

Major Demands

Sixth Schedule Inclusion:
- Aim: To grant Ladakh tribal status under the Constitution.
Statehood with Legislative Assembly:
- The demand for statehood and a legislative assembly remains active.

Language Policy

Expansion: Consideration of adding languages such as Purgi to the official languages of Ladakh, alongside Urdu and Bhoti.

Committee and Negotiations

High-Powered Committee:
- Led by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, first constituted in January 2023.
- Talks broke down in March 2024 but resumed in October 2024 after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite fast in Delhi.

Implications

Local Empowerment: The regularisation of Nautor land and revisions in domicile policy aim to empower local residents and secure their rights.
Political Stability: Addressing the demands for Sixth Schedule inclusion and statehood could contribute to long-term political stability in Ladakh.
Cultural Preservation: Recognizing local languages and customs strengthens the cultural identity of Ladakh.

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