The Ladakh Administration on Wednesday dissolved the erstwhile Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, with immediate effect, in view of the reorganisation of the administrative framework of the union territory and the creation of new districts and after Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, three Executive Councillors and six other councillors resigned amid a prolonged political tussle.
The administration’s order cites the resignations submitted on October 20 and the reorganisation of the erstwhile Kargil district following the creation of new districts from Kargil viz. Drass, Zanskar and Sankoo. Under the order, the CEC, Executive Councillors and all elected and nominated members of the erstwhile council
will cease to hold office and exercise their powers with immediate effect.
On Monday, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, VK Saxena, also notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, paving the way for the creation of Autonomous Hill Development Councils in all eight districts of the Union Territory, including the newly formed Sankoo district carved out of Kargil district.
The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kargil, will temporarily exercise the powers, duties and functions of the dissolved council to ensure continuity in governance and prevent an administrative vacuum.
“The interim arrangement will remain in force until separate Autonomous Hill Development Councils are constituted in accordance with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, and the rules framed thereunder, as amended from time to time,” a release read.
The latest dissolution comes amid the wider administrative reorganisation of Ladakh and the redrawing of territorial boundaries following the creation of six new districts. The administration said the interim arrangement would ensure uninterrupted public services and maintain administrative continuity until the new councils are constituted under the applicable legal framework.
The dissolution also comes against the backdrop of a political confrontation involving Akhoon, who was expelled by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference for six years in July over alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline.
The dispute began after Akhoon refused to step down as CEC following the completion of his two-and-a-half-year tenure in April, despite a power-sharing arrangement between the NC and Congress under which the post was to rotate between the two parties during the council’s five-year term.
The NC and Congress, which had contested the 2023 LAHDC Kargil elections in alliance, had agreed to share the CEC’s post for two-and-a-half years each. The arrangement envisaged the NC holding the post during the first half of the term, followed by Congress for the remaining period.
However, Akhoon’s refusal to relinquish the post triggered a political crisis, with Congress seeking his removal through a no-confidence motion. The NC subsequently joined hands with Congress in seeking action against its own CEC, while Akhoon retained control with support from BJP councillors.
The NC later expelled Akhoon after the council’s annual budget was passed with BJP support, deepening the rift between the CEC and his former party.
Earlier this month, Akhoon indicated that he intended to resign from the post following the creation of Sankoo district. He had welcomed the decision and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
