Minority quota nomination in LAHDC Kargil challenged in High Court

Kargil, Dec 4: The Ladakh Lieutenant Governor’s decision to nominate a member to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil under the minority quota has sparked strong opposition, prompting five councillors to file a petition in the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffar Akhoon, along with Executive Councillors Kacho Mohammad Feroz, Aga Syeed Mujtaba Mussavi, Zakir Hussain and Punchok Tashi, have challenged the order, arguing that the nomination violates the LAHDC Act. They contend that the seat belongs to the principal religious minority of the district, which they state is the Buddhist community, not Muslims.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, CEC Akhoon said the Lieutenant Governor’s nomination was “made against the LAHDC Act, 1997,” which permits nomination from the principal religious minority or women. He said Muslims form the majority population in Kargil, citing the 2011 Census, while Buddhists constitute the principal minority. “We are not against any individual, but the nomination itself is not genuine,” he added, seeking the quashing of the order to safeguard minority representation.

On November 12, LG Kavinder Gupta nominated advocate Reyaz Ahmed Khan as the fourth nominated member of the Council. LAHDC Kargil comprises 30 seats, including four nominated positions. Of 26 elected seats in 2023, NC secured 12, Congress 10, while BJP and Independents won two each. The remaining three members were nominated earlier in 2024 under Section 4(2) of the LAHDC Act.