Sonam Wangchuk Raises Alarm Over Land Lease Delays in Ladakh: A Call for Justice

Sonam Wangchuk, a noted education reformist and director of HIAL, has voiced serious concerns regarding delays in the execution of a land lease for his institute in Ladakh. Despite multiple appeals and communications with the administration, he claims that bureaucratic hurdles have hindered progress. The Ladakh administration has defended its decision to cancel the land allotment, citing legal non-compliance. Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has also criticized the administration's claims, asserting that they are fabrications. This ongoing dispute highlights the challenges faced by activists in Ladakh as they navigate bureaucratic obstacles while advocating for their rights and the community's needs.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 24, 2026, 13:16 IST

Concerns Over Land Lease Execution

Leh, Jammu: Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent education reformer and the founding director of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), has expressed frustration over administrative delays regarding the lease deed for land designated for his institute in Leh. He shared an official letter from the Ladakh administration dated February 19, 2021, to substantiate his claims.

The climate activist revealed that he has made numerous attempts to expedite the lease deed process, including five written requests, 15 visits to the authorities, and 30 phone calls.

Wangchuk's remarks follow the Ladakh administration's justification for revoking the land allotment to HIAL, citing the activist's non-compliance with legal requirements and stating that the allotment had lapsed due to unpaid dues and the failure to execute the lease deed.

In a recent affidavit submitted to the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the administration asserted that the 40-year lease for 1,076 kanals and 1 marla of land at Phyang Thang had expired on May 5, 2019, due to HIAL's inability to finalize the lease deed or pay the necessary land premiums within the required timeframe.

The affidavit, which spans 136 pages, was filed by Romil Singh Donk, the Deputy Commissioner of Leh and CEO of LAHDC, in response to HIAL's writ petition challenging the cancellation order issued on August 21, 2025.

Wangchuk took to Facebook to voice his concerns, stating, "Whenever I speak out against injustices in Ladakh, the government media machinery targets me and our institute's land lease. Please understand, don’t shoot the messenger." He shared a letter from the Deputy Commissioner and CEO of LAHDC, which indicated that the land deed was still being processed as the administration awaited the finalization of a new lease policy following the establishment of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter noted that due to the formation of the new UT and the pandemic, the execution of the lease deed was ongoing, and all institutions, including government ones, were experiencing similar delays. However, it allowed for construction activities to continue on the allotted land.

Wangchuk pointed out the administration's own delays, emphasizing the numerous appeals he made for timely execution of the land lease.

The affidavit further claimed that HIAL's writ petition was unfounded, lacking merit, and barred by delay, clarifying that the original allotment order from May 5, 2018, was conditional and would be canceled if the lease deed was not executed within a year.

Gitanjali Angmo, co-founder of HIAL and Wangchuk's wife, dismissed the claims in the affidavit as false, paralleling them with previous allegations against Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA).

Wangchuk was detained under the NSA following protests in Leh advocating for statehood and the extension of the sixth schedule of the Constitution to Ladakh in September 2025, but was released in March 2026 after the order was revoked.

Angmo criticized the administration for attempting to alter facts and refile the affidavit, suggesting they feared being caught in their inconsistencies. She highlighted Wangchuk's longstanding contributions to Ladakh since 2007, asserting that they do not rely on the administration or transient lieutenant governors.

She accused the administration of attempting to clear the land by spreading misinformation and creating a false narrative, a tactic they have employed in various cases.

In response to allegations regarding provocative materials circulated by his organization, the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), and unauthorized land occupation, Wangchuk stated these accusations were part of a smear campaign aimed at discrediting him for reminding the government of its commitments to the people of Ladakh.

Wangchuk recounted similar oppressive tactics faced in 2007, where attempts to imprison him failed due to public outcry, leading to intervention from then-President A P J Abdul Kalam.

He asserted, "We would rather die than submit to such high-handedness. We did not yield during the previous regime, and we will not do so now."

Wangchuk concluded by questioning how the administration could resurrect previously resolved issues, given that the court had already acquitted him.