Overview
- The Home Ministry set the High-Powered Committee meeting for February 4 at 4 pm in Kartavya Bhawan-3, New Delhi, chaired by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
- This will be the first full HPC sitting since the September 24 clashes in Leh, marking a formal restart of negotiations with Ladakh’s representative groups.
- The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance plan to press for Sixth Schedule inclusion, statehood with an assembly, a separate public service commission, two Lok Sabha seats, and stronger local job protections.
- Ladakhi leaders also intend to seek the release of those detained after the September violence, including Sonam Wangchuk held under the National Security Act in Jodhpur, as well as compensation and an impartial probe.
- Constituted in 2023, the HPC includes the Ladakh Lieutenant Governor, the UT’s MP, LAHDC leaders, and LAB/KDA members; prior measures include June 2025 domicile and reservation rules reserving 85% of UT jobs for locals, while core demands like Sixth Schedule status and a legislature remain unresolved.