Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, have accused the Ladakh administration of targeting their educational initiatives. This allegation follows a directive issued by the tehsildar’s office in Leh on November 1, which instructed the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) to cease operations at the newly established Desert Flower School until a final decision is made by the high court. The notice, addressed to Angmo, the co-founder and CEO of HIAL, cited a lack of necessary consents and approvals for commencing classes and activities at the school located in Phyang.

The notice also referenced an application submitted by Angmo on September 22, seeking a no-objection certificate for proposed members of the school’s managing committee. It stated that the matter concerning HIAL was currently sub judice before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and called for maintaining the status quo until the court reaches a final decision or issues further directions.

Background of the Land Dispute

Angmo elaborated on the land dispute, which reportedly began in August of the previous year when the Deputy Commissioner’s office questioned HIAL’s occupation of the land, citing the absence of a signed lease deed for eight years. Angmo stated that HIAL had made numerous attempts to resolve the issue, including five letters, approximately ten visits to government offices, and nearly fifty phone calls seeking the execution of the lease deed. Despite these efforts, the administration had not finalised its lease policy.

She indicated that officials had previously assured HIAL in writing that several institutions, including government entities, were operating without signed lease deeds and that construction could continue following the issuance of a no-objection certificate. Angmo mentioned that nearly 2.5 lakh square feet of passive solar-heated infrastructure had been built on the land with financial support from donors and public sector undertakings.

After Wangchuk’s release in March, the administration reportedly assured them that the land-related issues would be resolved. However, with no progress by September 2026, HIAL approached the high court, which issued an order on September 11 restraining the administration from creating third-party rights over the land and allowing HIAL to continue its activities until the case is resolved.

Concerns Over School Approvals

Regarding the school’s approvals, Angmo stated that the registration process had been initiated under SRO 2010. However, she claimed that officials requested a no-objection certificate from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, asserting that the school’s managing committee should not include political members. Angmo questioned this requirement, noting that the relevant SRO did not explicitly mandate such a certificate, leading to confusion among officials.

She mentioned that she had sent six letters to the authorities since September, including communications to the Deputy Commissioner and the Director of School Education. Her most recent letter was sent on October 30, reminding them that the school was scheduled to open on November 2. Angmo alleged that officials had not responded to her repeated inquiries.

Angmo also raised concerns about the timing of the notice, which was issued only after classes had commenced. She argued that infrastructure, furniture, and teaching staff could have been inspected as part of the approval process once the school began operating.

Current Status of the School

As of now, 46 children have enrolled in the kindergarten section of the Desert Flower School. Angmo noted that teachers interviewed the previous year had been awaiting the school’s opening. Parents had reportedly urged the management to commence classes after a wait of nearly two years, with some delaying admissions elsewhere in anticipation of the school’s launch.

According to Angmo, parents have submitted representations to various officials, requesting that the school’s functioning not be disrupted. She clarified that Desert Flower is a non-profit initiative within the HIAL framework, which aims to develop into a residential school. Wangchuk alleged that the administration’s actions form part of a broader campaign against those questioning its policies on various issues.

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