Leh, June 2 — The Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Monday said it has refused to sign the minutes of its May 22 meeting with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), alleging that a crucial point agreed upon during the talks was omitted from the official record.
The development comes days after the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two principal organisations representing Ladakh, announced an “in-principle” understanding with the Centre on restoring democratic governance and providing constitutional safeguards to the Union Territory.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk said he declined to endorse the minutes sent by the MHA because they did not include a provision discussed and agreed upon during the meeting regarding the Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APRs) of officers.
“I did not sign the document because one of the key points discussed during the meeting was missing. It was agreed that the Annual Performance Appraisal Reports of officers, up to the level of Chief Secretary, would be written by the elected body. This proposal came from the Centre itself. Since that point was not reflected in the minutes, I did not sign them,” Lakruk said.
He maintained that the Home Ministry should not alter or exclude any matter that had been agreed upon during the discussions held in New Delhi on May 22.
According to the LAB, the proposed arrangement envisages an elected government in Ladakh exercising executive authority over the Union Territory's administration, with all bureaucrats, including the Chief Secretary, functioning under that elected framework. The body has also stated that APRs of officers up to the rank of Chief Secretary would be written by the elected authority headed by a proposed Chief Minister.
The May 22 talks were held at the subcommittee level between representatives of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and leaders of the LAB and KDA. Following the meeting, both organisations said an understanding had been reached on extending constitutional safeguards to Ladakh on the lines of Articles 371A, 371F and 371G, which provide special provisions for Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram, respectively.
The two organisations had further stated that legislative, executive and financial powers under the proposed framework would be vested in elected representatives through a Union Territory-level legislative body.
The official minutes of the meeting are being closely watched as Ladakh's leadership and the Centre continue discussions on the future political and administrative structure of the Union Territory.