Leh: Chief Secretary of Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, on Saturday addressed a press briefing at the UT Secretariat in Leh, where he shared updates on key issues concerning the Union Territory, including the law-and-order situation, youth detentions, recruitment, and the ongoing dialogue process with local leaders.
Dr. Kotwal informed that out of the 70 youths detained after being “misled by certain leaders for personal and political gains,” 30 have already been released. He assured that no innocent youngster will face undue hardship and said the remaining individuals in judicial custody would be released as per court orders.
The Chief Secretary alleged that some leaders had acted irresponsibly, playing with Ladakh’s future and attempting to derail ongoing dialogue with the Centre. He noted that the Government of India has been engaging extensively with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) through the High-Powered Committee (HPC), its Sub-Committee, and several informal meetings. Preparatory discussions were also held in September ahead of the next HPC meeting scheduled for October 6.
Highlighting the outcomes of the dialogue process so far, Dr. Kotwal said major gains had been secured for Ladakh, including: Raising Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation from 45% to 84% (including 4% for LAC residents who are STs). Ensuring unfilled 10% EWS quota goes to general ST candidates in the same recruitment exercise. Granting one-third reservation for women in councils. Declaring Bhoti and Purgi as official languages of Ladakh. Recruitment of 1,385 non-gazetted posts through District Recruitment Boards and the Ladakh Subordinate Services Selection Board, in addition to 3,179 non-gazetted posts filled between 2021–24.
He added that recruitment for 224 gazetted posts — including 125 Medical Officers, 67 Lecturers, and 32 Accounts Officers — has already been advertised by the UPSC, while the remaining 156 vacancies will be notified in 2026.
Referring to the September 24 law-and-order incident that claimed four lives, Dr. Kotwal said the situation could have been avoided had some leaders prioritized Ladakh’s interests and called off the hunger strike, as dialogue dates had already been fixed. He said investigating agencies have clear evidence regarding the incident and stressed that the truth about the firing will emerge during the probe.
On broader development issues, Dr. Kotwal reiterated that Ladakh is being developed as a carbon-neutral region, with no mining or commercial exploitation of resources. He dismissed allegations of demographic flooding or cultural homogenization as “misleading,” and assured that Ladakh’s cultural identity remains protected.
He further informed that all land powers remain with the LAHDCs, whose CAPEX budget has increased five-fold from ₹50 crore to about ₹750 crore. In 2024–25, LAHDC expenditure accounted for nearly 30% of the UT’s total CAPEX budget. A major portion of the UT’s budget, ₹2,410 crore out of ₹5,958 crore, was spent on salaries, largely for employees under LAHDC administration.
Dr. Kotwal also addressed demands for an additional parliamentary seat, noting that the issue had been discussed in the HPC and would be taken up at the time of delimitation.
Concluding the briefing, the Chief Secretary underlined the government’s commitment to Ladakh’s people:
“The people of Ladakh are known for their peace-loving nature, strong patriotism, and immense contribution to nation-building. The Government has always remained open to dialogue and is committed to safeguarding Ladakh’s land, livelihoods, culture, and environment, while addressing the aspirations of the younger generation.”
