Leh, Nov 10 (PTI) Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Tuesday defended the decision to hold the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections on December 4, describing the exercise as a watershed moment towards deepening democracy and strengthening democratic institutions in the Union Territory.
Before the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections, panchayat and municipal polls will be held in Ladakh on November 21.
Appealing to the people of Ladakh, particularly the youth, women, senior citizens and religious organisations, to participate enthusiastically in the elections, Kundra said at a presser, “I feel it is a watershed moment for Ladakh and democracy.
“It is a turning point in the larger journey of democracy, particularly in the context of the demands being raised and the aspirations of the people.”
The administration on Tuesday announced the schedule for the elections to the eight LAHDCs, amid opposition from various groups, with Kargil observing a complete shutdown against holding the council elections during winter.
Several groups, including the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), have demanded postponement of the polls until after the winter season.
Addressing the concerns, Kundra said schools in Ladakh traditionally remain functional until December 15 or 16, and there should be no particular difficulty for adults in exercising their right to vote on December 4.
He assured voters that all the deputy commissioners have been instructed to make adequate arrangements at the polling stations, including heating facilities and separate queues for senior citizens, to ensure that electors do not face any inconvenience.
Responding to concerns over weather and road connectivity, the chief secretary said the situation has improved considerably over the past five years, with most roads now providing all-weather connectivity.
“There may occasionally be difficulties at one or two mountain passes in the event of heavy snowfall. However, even in such circumstances, the district administrations have prepared alternative routes and contingency arrangements to ensure that polling parties can reach their respective destinations,” Kundra said, adding that the administration is closely monitoring weather forecasts.
Emphasising the importance of timely constitution of the elected councils, Kundra said the newly elected LAHDCs would have the months of January, February and March to prepare the budget for the next financial year.
“If the councils are constituted after that, the entire budget preparation cycle could be missed, potentially delaying the process by a full year,” he said.
Kundra also rejected what he called “misleading perceptions” that the elected LAHDCs would not enjoy their full powers, clarifying that the powers already vested in the councils under the existing law would remain intact.
He said the elected councils would exercise not only the powers provided under the relevant Act but also those envisaged for the district panchayat under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
Referring to the broader democratic aspirations of Ladakh, the bureaucrat said the need to strengthen democratic institutions has been a recurring concern during discussions with the Leh Apex Body and other stakeholders.
He said the Centre is committed to strengthening democratic institutions in Ladakh and ensuring their constitution at the earliest.
Recalling that panchayat elections had not been held for the past three years, Kundra said the upcoming electoral exercise provides an opportunity to strengthen democratic participation and grassroots governance.
“People should participate. They must demonstrate that they believe in democracy and that participation in the democratic process reflects their desire and will,” he said, urging people to come out in large numbers and make the elections a success.
On concerns regarding electoral rolls, Kundra said the final rolls have been prepared after giving people sufficient time to file claims and objections during the revision process.
He said the LAHDC electoral rolls were prepared following the prescribed procedure, adding that people whose names had been left out could still seek inclusion, subject to the applicable rules and procedures, before the relevant deadline.
Appealing particularly to young voters, he urged them to verify their names in the electoral rolls and participate in the elections in large numbers.
On the issue of Nautor land regulations, Kundra said the draft regulations have been prepared to address a decades-old complex problem faced by people possessing such land without valid ownership titles, which prevented them from monetising their holdings.
He said the administration has received several suggestions from the public, including on regularisation rates and the exclusion of land belonging to government, educational and religious institutions.
The suggestions have been taken on board, and the final regulations would be framed after consultations with the newly elected LAHDCs, as recently indicated by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, Kundra said.
Nautor refers to barren or wasteland owned by the government that can be allotted to individuals for cultivation or other productive use, subject to approval by competent authorities.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)