THE LADAKH AUTONOMOUS HILL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS (AMENDMENT) REGULATION, 2026

jftLVªh lañ Mhñ ,yñ—¼,u½04@0007@2003—26 REGISTERED NO. DL—(N)04/0007/2003—26 सी.जी.-डीx.एxलx.G-अID.-1H61x0x2x026-277229 CG-DL-E-16102026-277229 xxxGIDExxx vlk/kkj.k EXTRAORDINARY Hkkx II — [k.M 1 PART II — Section 1 izkf/kdkj ls izdkf'kr PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY lañ 44] ubZ fnYyh] 'kqØokj] vDrwcj 16] 2026@vf'ou 24] 1948 ¼'kd½ No. 44] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026/ASVINA 24, 1948 (Saka) bl Hkkx esa fHkUu i`"B la[;k nh tkrh gS ftlls fd ;g vyx ladyu ds :i esa j[kk tk ldsA Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.

MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Legislative Department) New Delhi, the 16th October, 2026/Asvina 24, 1948 (Saka) THE LADAKH AUTONOMOUS HILL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS

(AMENDMENT) REGULATION, 2026 THE LADAKH AUTONOMOUS HILL DEVELOPMENT No. 16 of 2026 COUNCILS (AMENDMENT) REGULATION, 2026 Promulgated by the President in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India.

Promulgated by the President in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India.

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In exercise of the powers conferred by article 240 of the Constitution read with sub-section (2) of section 58 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, 34 of 2019.

the President is pleased to promulgate the following Regulation made by her:––

1. (1) This Regulation may be called the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Short title, Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026. extent and commencement.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Ladakh.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Administrator may, by

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Jammu and 2. Throughout the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997 Construction of Kashmir Act (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act),–– reference of XXXI of 1997. certain

(a) for the word “Governor”, wherever it occurs, the word expressions by “Administrator” shall be substituted; certain other expressions.2 THE GAZETTE OF IND2I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—

(b)for the words “Government Gazette”, wherever they occur, the words “Official Gazette” shall be substituted;

(c) for the word “State”, wherever it occurs, except in the enacting formula, the words “Union territory of Ladakh” shall be substituted.

Amendment of 3.In the long title of the principal Act, for the words “Ladakh region of Jammu long title. and Kashmir”, the words “Union territory of Ladakh” shall be substituted.

Amendment of 4. In section 1 of the principal Act, for sub-section (2), the following

section 1. sub-section shall be substituted, namely:–– “(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Ladakh.”.

Amendment of 5.In section 2 of the principal Act,––

section 2.

(i)for clause (a), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘(a) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Union territory of Ladakh appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution;

(aa) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Council;’;

(ii)for clause (g), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘(g) “district” means the areas which fall within the territorial limits of the districts of Leh, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Kargil, Zanskar and Drass, as the case may be, and includes any district hereafter created in the Union territory of Ladakh;’;

(iii)for clause (l), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘(l) “Government”, save as otherwise provided in this Regulation, means the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh;’;

(iv)clause (m) shall be omitted;

(v) in clause (n), in sub-clause (i), for the words and figures “defined under the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act, Samvat 1987”, the words and II of Svt.1987. figures “referred to in the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Wildlife Protection 16 of 1927.

53 of 1972.

Act, 1972” shall be substituted;

(vi)for clause (p), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:–– ‘(p) “Official Gazette” means the Official Gazette of the Union territory of Ladakh;

(q) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by the Administrator under this Act.’.

Amendment of

6.In section 3 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2), for the words and figures

section 3. “the Transfer of Property Act, Samvat 1977 and the Alienation of Land Act, Samvat XLII of Svt.

1995”, the words and figures “the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 and the Jammu 1977. and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act, Samvat 1995” shall be substituted. V of Svt. 1995.

IV of 1882.

Amendment of 7.In section 4 of the principal Act,–– V of Svt. 1995.

section 4.

(a) in sub-section (1), for the words “shall be twenty-six”, the words “shall not be less than seven and not exceeding twenty-four, as the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh may, in respect of each separate Council area, by notification in the Official Gazette, determine” shall be substituted;Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF IND3I A EXTRAORDINARY 3

(b) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section and Explanation shall be substituted, namely:— “(2) The Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh may nominate not more than four persons from amongst—

(a) women; and

(b) unrepresented communities in the district as the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh may, by

notification specify in this behalf,

to be members of the Council:

Provided that the number of persons so nominated shall not be exceeding one-sixth of the number of seats determined under sub-section (1) for that Council area.

Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-sections (1A) and (2), where one-sixth of the total number of seats determined under sub-sections (1) and (2), result in a fraction, such fraction shall be rounded off to the next higher whole number.”;

(c) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted,

namely:— “(3) The sitting member of the House of the People representing the Parliamentary Constituency of the Union territory of Ladakh, shall be ex officio member of the Councils constituted for each district.”;

(d) sub-section (4) shall be omitted.

8. After section 4 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, Insertion of new

section 4A.

namely:–– “4A. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time Superintendence, being in force,–– direction and control of

(a) the State Election Commission shall be responsible for elections. superintendence, direction and control of elections to the constituencies of the district councils and all matters relating to the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections under this Act;

(b) for the purposes of this Act, the State Election Commissioner as appointed for the Union territory of Ladakh shall be deemed to be the State Election Commission.”.

9. In section 5 of the principal Act,–– Amendment of

section 5.

(a) in sub-section (1), in the opening portion, for the words “Government shall, by notification in the Government Gazette”, the words “Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh, on the recommendations of the State Election Commission, shall, by notification in the Official Gazette” shall be substituted;

(b) after sub-section (2), the following sub-sections shall be inserted,

namely:— “(3) The number of constituencies in a Council area under sub-section (1), shall be equal to the number of seats determined under sub-section (1) of section 4 in respect of that Council area.

(4) For the purposes of sub-section (3), in determining the extent of each constituency, as far as practicable, due regard shall be given to the contiguity, compactness of area, the boundaries of panchayats and the desirability of securing a comparable population in each constituency within every Council, keeping in view the area and the seasonal inaccessibility.”.4 THE GAZETTE OF IND4I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Substitution of 10. For section 6 of the principal Act, the following section shall be new section for substituted, namely:––

section 6.

Preparation of “6. (1) The State Election Commission shall be responsible for the electoral roll. preparation of electoral rolls for the election of members of the Council.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the State Election Commission shall take into account the electoral roll prepared under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal IX of 1989.

Act, 2000 as applicable to the Union territory of Ladakh.”. XXof 2000.

Amendment of

11.In section 12 of the principal Act,––

section 12.

(a) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted,

namely:— “(1) No election shall be called in question except by an election petition filed before the High Court.”;

(b)in the Explanation, for the words and figures “section 132 of the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957”, the words and figures IV of 1957. “section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951” shall be substituted; 43 of 1951.

(c) in sub-section (3), for the words “petition, the authority appointed under sub-section (1) shall”, the words “petition, the High Court shall” shall be substituted.

Amendment of 12.In section 13 of the principal Act,––

section 13.

(a) for the words and figures “the Code of Civil Procedure, Samvat 1977”, the words and figures “the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908” shall be X of Svt. 1977. substituted; 5 of 1908.

(b) the words “by the authority appointed under section 12” shall be omitted.

Insertion of new 13. After section 14 of the principal Act, the following section shall be

section 14A. inserted, namely:–– Duration of “14A. Every Council, unless dissolved earlier, shall continue for a period Councils. of five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and the expiration of

such period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the Council:

Provided that such period may, if circumstances exist which in the opinion of the Administrator render the holding of election not practicable, be extended by the Administrator, by notification in the Official Gazette for a further period not exceeding one year.”.

Amendment of 14.In section 15 of the principal Act, insub-section (1), for the words “chosen

section 15. as member of Parliament or State Legislature”, the words “elected as member of Parliament” shall be substituted.

Amendment of 15.In section 17 of the principal Act,––

section 17.

(a) in clause (i), for the words “Central or the State Government”, the words “Central Government or any State Government or the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh or any other Union territory Administration or any local authority” shall be substituted;

(b) in clause (iv), for the words and figures “section 24 of the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957”, the words and figures IV of 1957. “section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951” shall be substituted. 43 of 1951.

Substitution of 16. For section 20 of the principal Act, the following section shall be new section for substituted, namely:––

section 20. “20. (1) Any member who is aggrieved by an order under section 19 Appeal against

order of may, within a period of forty-five days from the date of the order, appeal to removal. the High Court.Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF IND5I A EXTRAORDINARY 5

(2)On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the High Court, after giving an opportunity of being heard to the parties, may modify, set aside or confirm such order.”.

17.In section 22 of the principal Act,–– Amendment of

section 22.

(a) in sub-section (1), for the words “by regulations”, the words “by bye-laws” shall be substituted;

(b)in sub-section (2), for the words “ten members”, the words “one-third of the total number of members of the Council or three members, whichever is higher, and where one-third results in a fraction, it shall be rounded off to the next higher whole number” shall be substituted.

18.Section 23 of the principal Act shall be numbered as sub-section (1) thereof Amendment of and in sub-section (1) as so numbered,–– section 23.

(a)for clause (i), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–– “(i) allotment, use and occupation of land vested in the Council by the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh under this Act;”;

(b)in clause (iv), the brackets and words “(Plan and Non-Plan)” shall be omitted;

(c)clause (viii) shall be omitted;

(d)after sub-section (1) as so numbered, the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:–– “(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Council shall have all the powers of the Panchayat at the district level.”.

19.In section 24 of the principal Act,— Amendment of

section 24.

(i)in sub-section (1),––

(a) in clause (i), for the words “Consolidated Fund of the State”, the words “Consolidated Fund of India” shall be substituted;

(b)clause (ii) shall be omitted;

(ii)sub-section (3) shall be omitted.

20. In section 29 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for clause (b), the Amendment of following clause shall be substituted, namely:— section 29. “(b) such number of members, not exceeding four, as may be nominated by the Chief Executive Councillor from amongst the members of the Council, subject to the total number of members of the Executive Council not exceeding one-fourth of the total number of members of the Council:

Provided that at least one of the members nominated shall be a woman in the district.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, where one-fourth of the total members of the Council results in a fraction, such fraction shall be rounded off to the next higher whole number.”.

21. In section 31 of the principal Act, in sub-section (4), for the words “by Amendment of regulation”, the words “by bye-laws” shall be substituted. section 31.

22.In section 32 of the principal Act, for clauses (a), (b) and (c), the following Amendment of clauses shall be substituted, namely:–– section 32. “(a) budget;

(b)matters relating to land allotment and lease;

(c)development plan.”.6 THE GAZETTE OF IND6I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Amendment of 23. In section 36 of the principal Act, for the words “three members”, the

section 36. words “one-half of the total number of members of the Executive Council, and where one-half results in a fraction, it shall be rounded off to the next higher whole number” shall be substituted.

Amendment of 24. In section 39 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2), for the words “the

section 39. Council may by regulation, determine”, the words “may be prescribed” shall be substituted.

Substitution of 25. For section 40 of the principal Act, the following section shall be new section for substituted, namely:––

section 40. “40. All employees of the Administration of the Union territory of Employees of Administration Ladakh, who are transferred to the Council in the district, except the of Union employees of the judicial establishment and police personnel, shall be deemed territory of to be transferred employees on such terms and conditions as may be notified Ladakh

transferred to by the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh:

Council to be

Provided that the terms and conditions of service of such employeeshall deemed employees of not be varied to his disadvantage.”.

Council.

26.In section 41 of the principal Act,–– Amendment of

section 41.

(a)in sub-section (1),––

(i) in the opening portion, the words “by regulations” shall be omitted;

(ii) in clause (a), for the words “cadre post in that district”, the words “council posts in that district, in such manner as may be prescribed” shall be substituted;

(iii) clause (b) shall be omitted;

(b)in sub-section (2),––

(i)for the words “the Council shall”, the words “the Council may” shall be substituted;

(ii) after the word “prescribed”, the words “or the conduct of recruitment may be assigned to the Ladakh Subordinate Services Staff Selection Board” shall be inserted.

Amendment of 27.In section 42 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), the following proviso

section 42. shall be inserted, namely:–– “Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall affect the land which has been allotted to the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh and the Central Government including defence establishments.”.

Amendment of 28.In section 43 of the principal Act,––

section 43.

(a)in sub-section (1),––

(i)in clause (c), the words “Plan and Non-Plan” shall be omitted;

(ii)in clause (d), for the words “or State Government”, the words “Government or the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh” shall be substituted;

(b)in sub-section (2), for the words “Government treasuries”, the words “treasury of the Union territory of Ladakh” shall be substituted.

Amendment of 29. In section 44 of the principal Act,––

section 44.

(a) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted,

namely:–– “(1) The Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh shall allocate funds under the Budget to the Council to be credited to the Council Fund as per budgetary requirement as approved by the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh.”;Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF IND7I A EXTRAORDINARY 7

(b)sub-section (2) shall be omitted.

30.In section 45 of the principal Act,–– Amendment of

section 45.

(a)in sub-section (1), the words “Plan and Non-Plan” shall be omitted;

(b) in sub-section (2), for the words “Additional Secretary to the Government”, the words “Additional Secretary to the Union territory of Ladakh” shall be substituted.

31. In section 46 of the principal Act, for the words “The Government shall Amendment of lay such reports with the comments of the Council before the State Legislature”, the section 46. words “The Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh shall forward such reports with the comments of the Council to the Central Government” shall be substituted.

32. For section 48 of the principal Act, the following section shall be Substitution of substituted, namely:–– new section for

section 48. “48. The Council shall formulate the District Plan in accordance with Formulation of the guidelines laid down by the Administration of the Union territory of District Plan.

Ladakh.”.

33. For section 49 of the principal Act, the following section shall be Substitution of substituted, namely:–– new section for

section 49. “49. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Jammu and Kashmir Council to be IX of 1989. Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Council shall be deemed to be the Panchayat at Panchayat at district level.

the district level, for exercising the powers and performing the functions under such Act.”.

34.In section 50 of the principal Act,–– Amendment of

section 50.

(i) in the opening portion, for the words “the Councils of Leh and Kargil”, the words “all the Councils” shall be substituted;

(ii)in clause (a), for the word “both”, the word “all” shall be substituted;

(iii) in clause (c), for the words “Ladakh region”, the words “Union territory of Ladakh” shall be substituted.

35.In section 53 of the principal Act,–– Amendment of

section 53.

(a) for the marginal heading, the following marginal heading shall be substituted, namely:–– “Effect of expiry of term or dissolution of Council.”;

(b)for the opening portion, the following shall be substituted, namely:— “On the expiry of the term of the Council and until the constitution of a new Council or when an order of dissolution has been passed under

section 52, with effect from the date of such expiry or the date of the

order, as the case maybe,––”.

36.In section 54 of the principal Act, for the words and figures “section 21 of Amendment of XII of Svt. 1989. the Ranbir Penal Code”, the words, brackets and figures “clause (28) of section 2 of section 54.

45 of 2023. the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023” shall be substituted.

37. In section 57 of the principal Act, after the words “or regulations”, the Amendment of words “or bye-laws” shall be inserted. section 57.

38.In section 59 of the principal Act, in clause (a), the word “Assembly” shall Amendment of be omitted. section 59.8 THE GAZETTE OF IND8I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Amendment of 39. In section 60 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2),––

section 60.

(a) clause (ii) shall be omitted;

(b) after clause (iv), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:–– “(iva) the salary, allowances and other conditions of service of the Secretary under sub-section (2) of section 39;

(ivb) the manner of conducting recruitment and promotion under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 41;”.

Substitution of 40. For section 61 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be new sections 61 substituted, namely:–– and 61A for

section 61.

Power to make bye-laws. “61. (1) The Council with the approval of the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh shall have power, subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, to make bye-laws to be applicable within the district with respect to all or any of the matters required to be provided by bye-laws under any of the provisions of this Act.

public( a2 t) i oA nl l i nb y the e-l Oaw ffs i cm iaa ld Ge au zn ed tte er . sub-section (1) shall have effect upon their Transitional 61A. (1) On and from the appointed day in relation to a Council area, all provisions on the land which stood transferred to an existing Council under sub-section (1) constitution of of section 42 and which is situated within that Council area shall stand new Councils.

transferred to and vest in the Council constituted for that Council area.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Administration of the Union territory of Ladakh shall, by an order published in the Official Gazette, provide for the apportionment of all assets and liabilities between an existing Council and the Council constituted on and after the appointed date for a Council area from such existing Council.

(3) Every employee who, immediately before the appointed day, was serving in connection with the affairs of an existing Council within a Council area, shall, on and from that day, be deemed to be an employee of the Council constituted for that Council area, on the same terms and conditions, and nothing in this sub-section shall operate to vary the terms and conditions of service of any such employee to his disadvantage.

(4) All records and registers relating to a Council area, all contracts subsisting in relation thereto, and all suits, appeals and other legal proceedings of whatever nature instituted by or against an existing Council in relation thereto and pending immediately before the appointed day, shall be continued or enforced by or against the Council constituted for that Council area, which shall be deemed to be substituted therein for the existing Council.

(5) All regulations and bye-laws made under section 61 by an existing Council and in force immediately before the appointed day shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, shall continue to be in force in the Council area carved out therefrom until repealed or superseded.Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF IND9I A EXTRAORDINARY 9

Explanation.––For the purposes of this section,––

(a) “appointed day”, in relation to a Council area, means the date appointed under sub-section (1) of section 3 for the constitution of the Council for that Council area;

(b) “existing Council” means the Council as existing immediately before the commencement of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026.”. ———————— DROUPADI MURMU , President.

———— President.

DR. RAJIV MANI, Secretary to the Govt. of India.

UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002 AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.

MGIPMRND—769 GI—16.10.2026