MoS Home Nityanand Rai to chair -powered committee meeting
Srinagar, Jan 16: The high-powered committee (HPC) constituted by the Union Home Ministry to deliberate on the issues of the Ladakh Union Territory is set to meet in the first week of February in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai.
The Union Home Ministry has convened the HPC meeting on February 4 at 4:00 PM in New Delhi, according to the meeting notice issued by Ruchika Katyal, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Member Secretary of the HPC, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The meeting assumes significance as it is the first HPC session after the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) submitted a 29-page draft proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, seeking statehood, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, and amnesty for people arrested after the September 24, 2025 protests.
On September 24, 2025, Leh erupted in protests over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards on the 15th day of a hunger strike led by activist Sonam Wangchuk.
As many as four civilians were killed, while nearly 100 others-including police and paramilitary personnel-were injured in clashes between protesters and law-enforcement agencies.
The high powered committee, headed by Minister of State, MHA, Nityanand Rai, was constituted in 2023 to discuss measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic importance. The charter of the HPC includes examining “constitutional safeguards that could be provided to ensure the measures and protection.” (KNO)
