THE LADAKH AUTONOMOUS HILL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS (AMENDMENT) REGULATION, 2025

## Report on the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Amendment Regulation, 2025 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Amendment Regulation, 2025 (No. 2 of 2025), as promulgated by the President of India. This regulation amends the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, to introduce provisions for reserving seats for women in the Council. The key change mandates that at least one-third of the total seats in the Council be reserved for women, with a rotational allotment of these seats across different territorial constituencies. This report details the specific amendment, its rationale, and potential impact. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Amendment Regulation, 2025, based solely on the provided text of the regulation. This analysis will focus on the specific changes introduced by the amendment and their potential implications. **3. Policy Overview:** * This regulation amends the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997. * The core objective of the amendment, as inferred from the text, is to enhance women's representation in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. **4. Background and Rationale:** The amendment suggests a need to address the underrepresentation of women in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. The introduction of reserved seats indicates an effort to promote gender equality and ensure that women have a greater voice in the governance of the region. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This regulation introduces the following specific changes to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997: * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** Section 4 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997. * **New Rule/Provision:** Two new subsections, 1A and 1B, are inserted after subsection 1 of Section 4: * "(1A) Not less than one-third of the total number of seats in the Council shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies." * "(1B) The rotation of constituencies reserved for women referred to in subsection 1A shall be made on the basis of serial number allotted to each constituencies by notification in the Official Gazette." * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The amendment mandates a minimum quota of one-third of the seats in the Council be reserved for women. This provision aims to guarantee women's participation. The regulation further clarifies that the reserved seats will rotate among different territorial constituencies based on a serial number system published in the Official Gazette, ensuring equitable distribution of opportunities for women across different regions. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are: * Women residing in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council areas. * Electoral constituencies within the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council areas. * The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. * Political parties and candidates contesting elections to the Councils. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** Based on the text, the following implementation aspects can be inferred: * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** * **Central Government:** Responsible for determining the date of commencement of the regulation through notification in the Official Gazette. * **Authorities responsible for seat allotment and election management:** Responsible for implementing the reservation of seats for women and managing the rotation of reserved constituencies. * **Timelines or Procedures:** * The regulation comes into force on a date to be notified by the Central Government. * The rotation of constituencies is based on the serial number allotted to each constituency and notified in the Official Gazette. This suggests a pre-existing or newly established system for numbering constituencies. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these changes is increased representation and participation of women in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. This is expected to lead to: * A more inclusive and representative governance structure. * Greater consideration of women's issues and perspectives in policy-making. * Empowerment of women in the region. **9. Conclusion:** The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Amendment Regulation, 2025, introduces a significant change by mandating the reservation of seats for women in the Council. This amendment represents a proactive step towards promoting gender equality and ensuring greater representation of women in local governance within the Ladakh region. The successful implementation of this regulation will be crucial in achieving its intended outcomes and fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.

Key Entities Referenced