The Leh tehsildar issued an order instructing HIAL CEO Gitanjali J. Angmo to maintain a strict status quo at the Desert Flower School until land dispute litigation concludes. The school remains unable to officially start its upcoming academic term because officials have not granted a requested no-objection certificate. While Angmo rejected the order as baseless and accused authorities of intentionally delaying approvals, the government maintains that operating without clearance compromises ongoing court proceedings. The broader dispute stems from an August 2025 decision canceling HIAL's land allotment, which the administration claims is occupied without payment of dues.
Key points
Desert Flower School cannot launch its academic session after local authorities withheld…: Desert Flower School cannot launch its academic session after local authorities withheld its required no-objection certificate.
The government contends that halting institute activities is necessary to preserve status…: The government contends that halting institute activities is necessary to preserve status quo during the pending land ownership litigation.
Administrative scrutiny against the institute intersects with wider political tensions su…: Administrative scrutiny against the institute intersects with wider political tensions surrounding Ladakh's statehood and Sixth Schedule autonomy negotiations.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Ladakh authorities ask Sonam Wangchuk-founded HIAL to halt school activities in Leh pending HC decision on land dispute
SRINAGAR: Ladakh Union territory (UT) authorities have directed Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL), founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, to refrain from starting classes and other activities at a school within the complex in Leh till a land dispute pending in the high court is decided.A notice pertaining to Desert Flower School was issued to Gitanjali J. Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife who is listed as HIAL’s official founder and CEO. The notice says moves to start classes at the school could “prejudice” proceedings pending in the HC.“The notice takes serious note of the reported commencement of school activities without obtaining requisite consent, clearances and approvals from the concerned authorities,” a govt spokesperson said in a statement.The school was preparing to begin its new academic session, for which it had sought an NOC that has not been granted so far, sources said. Gitanjali dismissed the notice as “baseless”, claimed a reply had been sent and blamed the authorities for the delay in the NOC.
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