Centre remains committed to Art 371 safeguards for Ladakh NEW DELHI: Despite reservations expressed by Ladakh representatives over omissions in the minutes of the May 22 talks with MHA officials, sources said Centre remains committed to providing Constitutional safeguards to the region under Article 371 and ensuring bureaucracy is accountable to the political executive. The exact scope and legislative framework will be worked out in future discussions.At the meeting of the sub-committee on Ladakh on May 22, MHA and Ladakh representatives agreed “in principle” on creating a customised UT-level elected body with full legislative, executive and financial powers, along with constitutional safeguards under Art 371. However, when two key points – safeguards under Art 371 and the bureaucracy, including the chief secretary, being accountable to elected political/administrative head – were not explicitly reflected in the minutes of meeting (MoM), Ladakh bodies expressed reservations and were reluctant to commit to further talks.Sources in the central govt told TOI that while the govt stands by its in-principle agreement with Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), incorporating these points in the minutes was not feasible as the exact scope and nature of safeguards under Article 371 are yet to be discussed. “Any commitment at this juncture would be premature,” an official said.Similarly, detailed discussions are needed on how the bureaucracy would be accountable to the elected head. This can be addressed through Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), to be framed in consultation with Ladakh representatives and legal experts. “Before committing to a blanket arrangement, the exact structure and scope of accountability needs to be spelt out in TBR,” the officer said.Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra told TOI that Article 371 provisions applicable to northeastern states may not fit Ladakh due to its different historical and political context. “What is being offered to Ladakh is a customised solution… The MoM is a distilled version but fairly accurate and captures the essence and spirit of the discussions,” he said.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosContradicting Supreme Court and Tribunal Orders?: TN Assembly’s Firm Stand Against ProjectRare Handshake At LoC During Pakistani National’s Repatriation Draws Attention Across BorderJaishankar Says Global Appreciation For Indian Talent Is Growing RapidlyCongress Wins 5 Of 7 Karnataka MLC Seats, BJP Probes Suspected Cross-VotingRSS At 100: Why The Organisation Remains Unregistered And Why The Issue Keeps Returning?From Net-Zero Design To Cargo Hub: What Makes Jewar Airport Different?Why Brahmins Are Suddenly At The Centre Of UP’s 2027 Political Battle | SP vs BSP vs BJP ExplainedTMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsJio Files DRHP With SEBI | Mukesh Ambani Hands IPO Leadership To Isha, Akash & AnantFrom ‘Brother-in-Ideals’ To A Cold Greeting: Stalin’s Message Exposes DMK-Congress Rift123PhotostoriesLove Poha for breakfast? 6 ways to add 20 gms protein to each servingNew York’s first lady Rama Duwaji made bootleg Knicks merch look runway-readyFrom earning Rs 700 in his first job to doing plays with Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Tanmay Vekaria Aka Bagha got candid about his life5 signs of emotional manipulation in relationships, as per mental health counselor10 regional jackfruit dishes from across the world and why it is celebrated so muchFrom respecting Gauri Khan’s space to teaching his sons to respect women: 5 times Shah Rukh Khan proved he is Bollywood’s ultimate green flag10 baby girl names that mean pure in different languagesFrom Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif: Inside the pilates routine that keeps these Bollywood divas fit6 most beautiful hidden villages in India that are absolutely worth a tripWhy were women banned from doing makeup on Bollywood sets? Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist explains the breaking of the 59-year-old barrier123Hot PicksEngland vs New ZealandYuvraj SinghUSA Vs AustraliaAP SSC resultsKannur University FYUGP TrialShiv SenaJD VanceStrait of HormuzHormoz nuclear power plantTop TrendingBihar gang-rapeUS-Iran Peace DealStock Market LiveFIFA World Cup 2026What is Legacy BadgeBEST bus strikeAIIMS BSc Nursing Admit CardMHT CET PCM 2nd attempt resultsGold rate todayIndia-UK FTA
NEW DELHI: Despite reservations expressed by Ladakh representatives over omissions in the minutes of the May 22 talks with MHA officials, sources said Centre remains committed to providing Constitutional safeguards to the region under Article 371 and ensuring bureaucracy is accountable to the political executive. The exact scope and legislative framework will be worked out in future discussions.At the meeting of the sub-committee on Ladakh on May 22, MHA and Ladakh representatives agreed “in principle” on creating a customised UT-level elected body with full legislative, executive and financial powers, along with constitutional safeguards under Art 371. However, when two key points – safeguards under Art 371 and the bureaucracy, including the chief secretary, being accountable to elected political/administrative head – were not explicitly reflected in the minutes of meeting (MoM), Ladakh bodies expressed reservations and were reluctant to commit to further talks.Sources in the central govt told TOI that while the govt stands by its in-principle agreement with Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), incorporating these points in the minutes was not feasible as the exact scope and nature of safeguards under Article 371 are yet to be discussed. “Any commitment at this juncture would be premature,” an official said.Similarly, detailed discussions are needed on how the bureaucracy would be accountable to the elected head. This can be addressed through Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), to be framed in consultation with Ladakh representatives and legal experts. “Before committing to a blanket arrangement, the exact structure and scope of accountability needs to be spelt out in TBR,” the officer said.Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra told TOI that Article 371 provisions applicable to northeastern states may not fit Ladakh due to its different historical and political context. “What is being offered to Ladakh is a customised solution… The MoM is a distilled version but fairly accurate and captures the essence and spirit of the discussions,” he said.
