Act North

(Source: The Hindu, Editorial Page)

Also Read: The Indian Express Editorial Analysis: 04 June 2025
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis: 04 June 2025

Topic: GS Paper 2 (Governance – Federalism, Representation, Role of Civil Services), GS Paper 1 (Indian Society – Regionalism, Tribal Concerns)

Context

The editorial addresses growing protests in Ladakh, where locals, especially from Leh, demand constitutional safeguards, political representation, and preservation of cultural identity, following the 2019 decision to convert Ladakh into a Union Territory without a legislature.

Background: Reorganisation of J&K in 2019

August 5, 2019: Article 370 revoked, and the state of Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into:

• Jammu & Kashmir (Union Territory with legislature)

• Ladakh (Union Territory without legislature)

Since then, Ladakh has faced:

• Political marginalisation

• Absence of elected representation

• Threats to tribal identity and culture

People’s Demands and Civil Society Movements:

• A united civil society front in Leh has mobilised:

  • Demand for inclusion in Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (to protect tribal land, culture).

  • A separate Public Service Commission for local recruitment.

  • Job and land safeguards for locals.

  • Full democratic participation through legislature or similar institutional mechanisms.

• Recent protests have witnessed thousands rallying for these rights.

Demand and Constitutional Provisions:

This section is best visualised in a table format:

Demand	Related Provision	Challenge/Implication
Inclusion in Sixth Schedule	Article 244 & Sixth Schedule (for tribal areas)	Sixth Schedule currently applies only to certain NE states; Ladakh is a UT without legislature
Separate PSC	Article 315-323 (State PSC provisions)	No provision for separate PSC for UT without legislature
Land & Job Protection	Similar to J&K’s domicile laws pre-2019	Would require special legal protections or new laws
Legislative Representation	UTs like Delhi & Puducherry have legislatures	Needs constitutional amendment or special legislation

Centre’s Response: Inaction & Consultation:

• The Government of India has held intermittent talks but shown no decisive action.

• Protestors argue that assurances haven’t materialised into policy or law.

• The Supreme Court has acknowledged the need to address Ladakh’s exclusion in ongoing Article 370 cases.

Socio-Cultural and Environmental Sensitivities:

• Ladakh’s fragile Himalayan ecology makes local autonomy essential.

• Rapid tourism and military infrastructure growth threaten:

  • Water security

  • Livelihoods

  • Cultural continuity (Buddhist and tribal traditions)

Political Significance:

This is not just a local governance issue but a test of:

• Centre-State federal balance

• Democratic decentralisation

• Government’s commitment to tribal rights and minority participation

Way Forward:

• Serious consideration for constitutional innovation—perhaps a special provision for tribal UTs.

• Institutionalising a consultative mechanism with local tribal leaders.

• Long-term roadmap for democratic participation, especially through:

  • Local elections

  • District Councils

  • Tribal advisory bodies

Practice Question: The political demands emerging from Ladakh post-2019 highlight challenges in India’s federal structure and tribal governance. Critically examine the constitutional and democratic implications of extending Sixth Schedule provisions to Ladakh. (GS Paper 2 | 250 words | 15 marks)