A new governance model for Ladakh
The article analyzes the constitutional and political debate surrounding Ladakh's demand for Sixth Schedule status versus the government's proposal for an elected legislative body. It examines the balance between federalism and unitary governance in India.
Why it matters
Addresses critical issues of regional autonomy, tribal rights, and constitutional governance in India.
The demand by Ladakh for Sixth Schedule status and the proposal made by the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide for a directly elected legislative body for governance in the Union Territory has created a paradoxical situation and raised the question of whether a UT can be granted such status. Whether it would be constitutionally valid to equate States and UTs in the context of their respective governance is a question worth examining. Indian federalism is unique in the sense that, in general, it functions as a federation, while during an Emergency, it becomes perfectly a union. This is why the Supreme Court has called it “Amphibian” in State of Rajasthan v. Union of India (1977).
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