Leh, November 5: Educationist Sonam Wangchuk has accused the Ladakh Administration of targeting his educational initiatives after authorities directed Desert Flower School to suspend its activities over pending approvals and a land-related dispute.
Describing the action as a “witch hunt”, Wangchuk alleged that the administration had deliberately delayed the school’s permissions despite repeated representations and had subsequently issued a suspension notice just a day before the institution was scheduled to begin functioning.
Addressing a press conference along with his wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, Wangchuk questioned the basis of the notice, claiming that the authorities themselves were responsible for the administrative delays now being cited against the school.
According to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the founders said the dispute primarily concerns a pending lease deed for land allotted to Hayal, which remains unresolved because the UT administration has not finalised its lease policy.
They maintained that construction had earlier been permitted at the site and that the required no-objection certificate had also been issued, allowing donors and public sector entities to contribute towards the project.
Angmo said nearly 2.5 lakh square feet of passive solar-heated infrastructure had already been developed at the site. She also referred to a September 11 High Court order restraining the administration from creating third-party rights over the land until the matter is adjudicated.
On the issue of school permissions, Angmo alleged that conflicting procedural requirements raised by the Education Department and district administration had held up the approval process despite several communications seeking clearance.
She questioned the timing of the suspension notice, saying it was issued barely a day before the school was due to commence operations.
Wangchuk linked the action to his criticism of the administration’s policies concerning tourism, land and development in Ladakh, alleging that his educational initiatives were being subjected to unnecessary obstacles.
He urged the administration to facilitate educational institutions instead of creating hurdles for initiatives aimed at expanding learning opportunities in the region.
The founders said 46 children had enrolled in the kindergarten section, adding that several parents had been waiting for nearly two years for the school to become operational.
Desert Flower School is part of Hayal’s proposed School of Experiential Education, a not-for-profit initiative envisaging multiple institutions specialising in areas such as ecology, architecture, tourism and energy studies.
The founders maintained that the school would continue functioning unless restrained by a competent court, adding that they would abide by the final judicial decision in the matter.
