Ladakh’s Sankoo gets district status; separate LAHDC
The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh on Friday formally notified the creation of Sankoo as a new district, with Sankoo designated as its headquarters. With this, the total number of districts in Ladakh has risen to eight.
The Revenue Department, UT Ladakh, issued Notification S.O. 284 dated October 16, 2026, under Section 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, 1996, as applicable to the Union Territory of Ladakh, in continuation of Notification S.O. 180 dated April 27, 2026.
As per the notification, the newly created Sankoo district comprises four tehsils: Sankoo, GM Pore, TSG and Taisuru, along with the revenue villages specified in the notification.
The jurisdiction of Kargil district has been modified by excluding the tehsils and revenue villages now included in Sankoo district.
The notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
The creation of Sankoo district marks an important administrative development for the region and is expected to facilitate governance and public service delivery closer to the people.
The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has also notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Sankoo, for the newly created Sankoo district under the provisions of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.
As per Notification S.O. 285 dated October 16, 2026, issued by the Revenue Department, UT Ladakh, the Lieutenant Governor has notified the LAHDC, Sankoo, for the district of Sankoo under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Act.
The Council shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as prescribed under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, as amended from time to time.
Consequently, the jurisdiction of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, shall be modified by excluding the tehsils and revenue villages falling within Sankoo district.
The notification further states that elections to the Council shall be held in due course, following the issuance of a formal notification under Section 8 of the Act.
The notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.