VoL Desk, October 23: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil (LAHDC-K) has passed a resolution for Separate Public Service Commission for gazetted posts in Ladakh, adoption of Sikkim model for reservation of jobs, and relaxation of upper age limit for recruitment in Ladakh.

A meeting of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, was held on October 10, 2024 chaired by the Hon’ble Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil.

The meeting was attended by Hon’ble Executive Councillors, Hon’ble Member of Parliament Ladakh (Ex-officio member of LAHDC) and all Hon’ble Councilors, and the key issues regarding public services, recruitment, and local employment and measures to safeguard the interests of Ladakh and its inhabitants were discussed in detail.

* Click to Follow Voice of Ladakh on WhatsApp *

The Council, after thorough deliberation, unanimously resolved to recommend the following measures to the Administration of UT Ladakh.

The full text of the resolutions are enumerated as under:

1. Separate Ladakh Services Cadre and Cadre Management by JKPSC: The LAHDC Kargil strongly recommends the creation of a Separate Ladakh Services Cadre to ensure adequate representation of Ladakhis in administrative roles. However, until the formation of a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh, the Council suggests that the current cadre management for the gazetted posts should remain under the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) on the lines of dispensation adopted for the High Court of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Furthermore, the LAHDC, Kargil, strongly urges that the UT Administration should not consider or decide on the inclusion of Ladakh in the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) cadre, as this would undermine the unique requirements and aspirations of the people of Ladakh given the fact that due to geographical constraints and limited opportunities, the aspirants are unable to compete with the people residing in other areas included in DANICS cadre. The separate Ladakh cadre is necessary for addressing local governance needs effectively as also included in the agenda of meeting of representatives of Ladakh with the High Powered Committee (HPC) in Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.
2. Adoption of the Sikkim Model of Reservation for Gazetted Posts: The Council calls for the adoption of the Sikkim Model of Reservation, which reserves gazetted posts for permanent residents of Ladakh. This measure will protect local employment opportunities and safeguarding interest of people of Ladakh, ensuring that Ladakhi residents are adequately represented in senior government roles. It will also help preserve Ladakh’s cultural and demographic identity while empowering the local youth to take leadership roles within the region.
3. Relaxation of Upper Age Limit for Recruitment in UT Ladakh: Given the lack of recruitment in Government employment in Ladakh since the creation of the Union Territory, the Council recommends that the UT Administration should provide a relaxation in the upper age limit for all government posts. This relaxation is crucial to ensure that aspirants who have been unable to apply for jobs in the past five years are not unfairly excluded from future recruitment opportunities.

Conclusion: The LAHDC, Kargil, unanimously endorses these resolutions, recognizing them as necessary steps to protect the interests of Ladakh’s residents in terms of employment and governance. The Council strongly urges the Administration of UT Ladakh to act on these recommendations promptly, ensuring a fair and inclusive approach to public service recruitment and cadre management. This resolution is submitted to the Administration of UT Ladakh for immediate consideration and action.

Passed unanimously on 10.10.2024 duly signed by all the members as per the listed enclosed.