Ban on all types of protests and demonstrations in Leh and Kargil

The Chief Electoral Officer of Ladakh has ordered a ban on all types of protests, demonstrations, processions, sit-ins, and rallies within the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil. According to a report by The Hindu, the order was issued on Wednesday, 11 November, 2026, as the Model Code of Conduct is in force for the upcoming local body elections.

This ban will remain in effect until the election process for the Municipal Committees of Leh and Kargil is completed this month. The order clarifies that under the Model Code of Conduct, it is necessary to maintain an environment conducive to free, fair, and peaceful elections. No activity that may create fear, intimidation, or undue influence among voters can be permitted.

According to the election officer, conducting mass activities such as political protests, demonstrations, processions, sit-ins, or rallies during this period has the potential to intimidate voters, disturb public order, and spoil the atmosphere of free and fair elections. All political parties, candidates, and their agents have been directed to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and ensure that no kind of pressure or influence is exerted on voters.

District Election Officers or Deputy Commissioners of Leh and Kargil, as well as the District Superintendents of Police, have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with this order. The order further adds that any violation will be dealt with strictly according to the law, including proceedings under the relevant provisions and the Model Code of Conduct.

This order comes a day after the Leh Apex Body (LAB) announced the commencement of a movement. LAB had threatened to launch a sit-in protest from 12 November. LAB's demands include resuming dialogue between the Centre and Ladakh institutions, declaring the status of the judicial inquiry report into the violence of 24 September, 2025, in which four people died, and postponing the Hill Council elections until next year.

LAB co-president Tsering Dorje Lakruk and activist Sonam Wangchuk, among other members, made a video appeal on Wednesday to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. They requested them to intervene before the people of Ladakh are forced to start peaceful but intense protests to express their grievances.

According to Sonam Wangchuk, the judicial inquiry commission's report regarding the September 24 incident is progressing slowly even after a year has passed, and talks regarding the restoration of democracy have broken down. However, he stated that the Union Territory administration is working very rapidly to conduct the Hill Council elections, which may be aimed at establishing people's representatives to negotiate on democracy and security. According to Wangchuk, people from every region of Ladakh are protesting against this method of conducting such councils and elections.

LAB had demanded the postponement of the Hill Council elections because extreme cold and snowfall occur in Ladakh during the months of December and January, where temperatures drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius in many places. Additionally, almost half the population leaves Ladakh for education, vacations, or pilgrimages.

Ladakh was made a Union Territory in 2019 by separating it from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Multi-tier elections for Panchayats, Municipalities, and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) will be held here from 21 November to 4 December.