The Union Home Ministry told a parliamentary panel that the main goal of including tribal populations under the said schedule is to ensure their overall socio-economic development, which the Union Territory’s administration “has already been taking care of since its creation,” avoiding a direct response on the possibility of including Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
After being lost its special status on August 5, 2019, a number of political organisations in Ladakh demanded that the Sixth Schedule be amended to include protections for Ladakh’s land, economy, and cultural identity.
The Schedule provides autonomy to communities by establishing Autonomous Development Councils, which can propose legislation regarding land, public health, and agriculture. This protects native inhabitants. Ten autonomous councils are currently operating in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
This news is written by Ms. Pujari Dharani, Research Assistant, All India Legal Forum.
ALL INDIA LEGAL FORUM 