The government on Saturday revoked the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA). The decision comes after six months of his detention, following which he was kept in Jodhpur Central jail in Rajasthan. Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, under the provisions of the NSA, following violent protests in Leh.
During the violent protests in Ladakh that erupted over demands for statehood and protections under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, Wangchuk was accused of inciting unrest and misleading the public. Wangchuk was a key figure in the protests and had been on a hunger strike since September 10, 2025.
The revocation of his detention under NSA has again brought the persistent demand for inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to forth. Ladakh is directly administered by the central government through a Lieutenant Governor (LG) appointed by the President. This is because it is a Union Territory without a legislature.
Why Is Ladakh Demanding It?
Ladakh has been demanding inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to secure legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy. The aim is to protect land, culture, and the fragile ecosystem of Ladakh. Locals, who are 90 per cent tribal, fear losing identity to outsiders. They demand the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to replace the existing Hill Councils, which are less powerful. A major protest over these demands was witnessed in September 2025.
Proposal of Sixth Schedule Of The Constitution
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Articles 244(2) and 275(1)) provides for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through ADCs. The Schedule outlines provisions to the administration of tribal areas in these four states. It grants local tribes legislative, judicial, and financial autonomy to preserve their culture and manage resources.
The Schedule allows formation of district councils and regional councils, administration of justice in autonomous districts and regions, and empowers district councils to make regulations for the control of moneylending and trading by non-tribals.
The districts are governed by ADCs or regional councils, consisting of 30 members, with 4 nominated by the Governor and 26 elected for 5-year terms. The councils have the power to make laws related to land management, forests (except reserved forests), inheritance, marriage, social customs, and village administration. They can also levy taxes, collect land revenue, and manage budgets.
The Sixth Schedule largely aims to protect indigenous tribal populations from exploitation, while also preserving their distinct cultural identities. The Schedule is currently limited to northeastern tribal areas, and extending it to Ladakh will require a constitutional amendment.