In a recent development, authorities in Ladakh have instructed Sonam Wangchuk’s educational institution, the Desert Flower School, to cease its activities. This action is related to ongoing legal proceedings concerning a land dispute involving Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL).
Details of the Notice
The notice was issued by the Tehsildar of Leh and is directed towards Dr. Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife and the CEO of HIAL. It requests that the school maintain the current status quo until the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh resolves the pending case. The document emphasizes that any activity could potentially prejudice the ongoing legal matter.
According to the administration, Angmo had sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Leh Deputy Commissioner on September 22. This was for the proposed managing committee of the Desert Flower School at Phyang, which is a part of the HIAL ecosystem. However, the administration alleges that the school began classes and other activities without the necessary approvals.
Background of the Land Dispute
The conflict dates back to May 2018, when HIAL was allocated 1,076 kanals and one marla of land at Phyang Thang to create an alternative university aimed at sustainable development in the Himalayan region. The land was granted for a 40-year lease, subject to certain conditions. However, in August 2025, the Ladakh administration annulled the allotment, claiming the institute failed to complete lease formalities and establish the university as planned.
HIAL subsequently challenged this decision in the High Court, which restrained the administration from creating third-party rights over the disputed land. The interim order, however, did not revoke the cancellation of the land allotment.
Administration’s Justification and HIAL’s Response
In October, the administration defended its decision through a comprehensive affidavit, arguing that the allotment had lapsed in May 2019 due to unfulfilled lease conditions. This included the non-execution of the lease deed and the failure to deposit the mandatory land premium within the stipulated time. Additionally, it cited a certification from Ladakh’s Higher Education Department in October 2026, which stated that HIAL was not a recognized university and that its courses lacked statutory affiliation.
HIAL disputes these claims, stating it attempted to execute the lease deed shortly after the land was allotted. Wangchuk has accused the administration of intentional delays, highlighting numerous attempts to resolve the issue, including written appeals, visits, and phone calls. He also referenced a 2021 communication acknowledging delays due to Ladakh’s transition to a Union Territory and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wangchuk believes the land dispute is being used as a means to target his activism in the region, a claim the administration denies, maintaining that the conditions of the land allotment were not met.
Source: NDTV India
