Why Leh and Ladakh Is Boiling? What Is Sixth Schedule Status Protesters Are Demanding?

Local organizations in Ladakh have intensified calls for the Union Territory to be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, citing the need to protect tribal land, jobs, and cultural identity.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have urged the Centre to grant constitutional safeguards similar to those enjoyed by tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram under Article 244(2). The Sixth Schedule protects tribal land and resources and provides autonomy for local governance, preventing the transfer of land to non-tribal individuals or communities.

Currently, Ladakh is governed under regulations issued by the President under Article 240, following the abrogation of Article 370 and the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. As a Union Territory without a legislature, Ladakh's local governance and resource protections rely on rules that can be amended unilaterally by the Centre.

Key Demands of Ladakhis

• Constitutional inclusion under the Sixth Schedule for stronger autonomy.
• Restrictions on land ownership to prevent influx of non-domiciles.
• Establishment of a Legislative Assembly for representative governance.

Advocates say Sixth Schedule status would secure land rights for the region's 97% tribal population, whose livelihoods and culture are closely tied to the land. It would also help preserve indigenous languages such as Bhoti, Purgi, and Balti by promoting education and official use in local governance.

Ladakh's fragile ecosystem has faced pressures from tourism and infrastructure projects, adding urgency to demands for constitutional protection of land and resources.

The LAB and KDA have stated that without the Sixth Schedule, the Centre's existing regulations under Article 240 are insufficient to guarantee permanent safeguards for the people and culture of Ladakh