Ladakh, 15th April, 2025: Former Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, has reignited a contentious debate with his recent disclosure that he had proposed a domicile policy with 1954 as the eligibility cutoff year to the APEX Committee-KDA (APEX-KDA). Namgyal claimed that the proposal had received verbal support from the Union Home Minister, but was ultimately not accepted.
“I had suggested that individuals residing in Ladakh since 1954 should be eligible for domicile status. I was able to convince the Home Minister on the matter, but unfortunately, the proposal was not approved,” Namgyal said while addressing the issue.
The statement has triggered strong reactions from various political stakeholders in Ladakh, highlighting the region’s deep-rooted concerns around demographic shifts, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and employment opportunities for locals.
In response, Tsering Dorjey Lakrook, senior leader of the APEX-KDA—an alliance that has been leading demands for Sixth Schedule protection for Ladakh—firmly rejected the 1954 suggestion.
“We are clear in our demand. The domicile eligibility cutoff must be 1989, not 1954. If 1954 was ever on the table, there should be no issue in accepting 1989 today,” Lakrook stated.
The APEX-KDA has consistently maintained that the 1989 cutoff year reflects a more appropriate benchmark, aligned with the socio-political dynamics of the region post-independence and prior to major migratory changes.
This development comes amid broader calls for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule to ensure the protection of Ladakh’s indigenous identity and equitable development. The Centre’s response to these renewed demands will likely shape the next phase of the region’s administrative and political trajectory.
