Leh: The Ladakh administration has cancelled a land lease granted to climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk's Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), prompting widespread political backlash in the region. Wangchuk posted a video on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, calling the notice sent to HIAL the “Bharat Ratna” and "Padma Shri” that his followers had said he deserves for his long-standing struggle demanding land rights for the people of Ladakh.

The decision, announced by the Deputy Commissioner of Leh on August 21, revoked the allotment of over 1,076 kanal and 1 marla (more than 53 hectares) of land in Phyang, originally granted to HIAL in 2018 on a 40-year lease. The administration stated the land had not been used for the purpose it was allotted—namely, the establishment of a legally recognised university—and that no lease agreement had been executed, nor any formal handover of land conducted through the Tehsildar. The order stated that the land “stands escheated to the State, i.e., LAHDC (Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council)” and directed that it be cleared of encumbrances and returned to the revenue record.

Wangchuk, who also serves as an executive member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), called the move a “witch-hunt” designed to suppress demands for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. “It is a deliberate attempt to harass us on baseless charges,” he said, announcing plans to challenge the order in court.

HIAL co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Gitanjali Angmo described the grounds cited in the cancellation as unfounded, asserting that more than 400 students had completed fellowships and academic programmes at the alternative institute over the past five years. “This is an alternative university and does not require UGC registration but we applied the same on March 16, 2022 and deposited Rs 15 lakh on March 28, 2022… We met (education minister) Dharmendra Pradhan on March 15, 2023 and he proudly tweeted about our meeting with him,” she said.

Angmo further claimed that their application for UGC registration had been stalled due to Wangchuk’s association with the ongoing agitation in Ladakh. She also pointed out that repeated requests to finalise the lease deed had been delayed by the administration, which responded that the lease policy was still under formulation, yet verbally allowed them to continue construction in the interim.

“The land was allotted by LAHDC, but when it was cancelled, it was done by the deputy commissioner without even taking into confidence the hill council, which is a clear violation of its mandate,” Wangchuk said. He warned that the decision could have wider implications for democratic expression in the Union Territory.

LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey said the move was a clear attempt to silence the people of Ladakh who are demanding constitutional protection. “We will not be cowed down by such acts,” he said, joined by other members of the LAB and Wangchuk at a press conference.

Meanwhile, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which is jointly spearheading the movement with LAB, also condemned the cancellation. KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said the leadership saw it as part of a broader pattern to “browbeat” those advocating for Ladakh’s constitutional rights. He linked the decision to the increased deployment of CRPF personnel and the Centre’s delay in resuming talks, warning that “if the people will come on the roads, do not blame us for that.”

In response to the criticism, the Ladakh administration defended its decision, insisting the cancellation was strictly in line with legal provisions. Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, addressing reporters on August 24, said HIAL had violated lease conditions and had not used the land for the stated purpose. “This is a unique case where the lease was cancelled only due to non-utilisation for the proposed university,” he said.

Kotwal, joined by the Leh Deputy Commissioner and other senior officials, denied any political motive, stating: “No land will be taken back from people using state or barren land for agriculture or housing, as long as documents are proper.” He explained that the land, originally granted for agricultural use during Dogra rule, should be used accordingly unless formally repurposed. He added that a committee has now been formed to streamline land records across the Union Territory.

Both KDA and LAB have indicated that they will reconvene after the return of the Dalai Lama from Ladakh to decide on their next course of action.

PTI