Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, October 17, 2025: In a significant move to address escalating tensions in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, has ordered a Judicial Inquiry into the serious law and order incident that occurred in Leh town on September 24, 2025, which tragically resulted in the deaths of four individuals.
The inquiry will be spearheaded by Hon’ble Dr. Justice B. S. Chauhan, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. This decision comes as a direct response to a major demand by the agitating groups in Ladakh—the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)—who had suspended dialogue with the Central government following the violence.
Mandate of the Commission
The official notification, issued by the Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, states that the inquiry is “imperative” and is mandated to thoroughly investigate three key areas:
1. The circumstances that led to the serious law and order situation in Leh on September 24, 2025.
2. The subsequent police action taken to control the situation.
3. The resultant unfortunate death of the four individuals.
The MHA’s swift action is seen as an attempt to restore trust and potentially pave the way for the resumption of talks with local stakeholders regarding their long-standing demands for Statehood and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Key Appointments to the Judicial Panel
Dr. Justice B. S. Chauhan, who previously served as a Supreme Court Judge from 2009 to 2014, will be assisted by a two- member team in conducting the probe.
Dr. Justice Chauhan will be assisted by Sh. Mohan Singh Parihar, Retd. District & Sessions Judge, as Judicial Secretary, and Sh. Tushar Anand, IAS, as Administrative Secretary
The order, the copy of which is available with News Insider 24X7 is signed by Prashant S. Lokhande, Joint Secretary, also directs the Chief Secretary, UT of Ladakh, and the Director General of Police, UT of Ladakh, to provide all necessary administrative and logistic support to facilitate the judicial inquiry.
Legal Backdrop and Protests
The incident on September 24 saw violent clashes between security forces and protesters, who were primarily demanding constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory. The clashes reportedly resulted in the death of four civilians and injuries to nearly 90 others.
In connection with the violence, an FIR has already been registered at Police Station Leh (FIR No. 144/2025) under multiple stringent sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These sections cover a range of serious offences, including abetment, attempt to commit offences, various forms of grievous hurt, attempt to commit suicide, rioting, and obstruction of public servants, among others.
While the judicial inquiry addresses a core demand of the protesting groups, leaders of the LAB and KDA have stressed that full justice requires the release of all detained individuals, including prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) following the violence. They have decided to proceed with their planned peaceful silent march and a three-hour blackout across the region on Saturday to express solidarity with the victims and continue pressing their broader demands.
The order also notes that a First Information Report (FIR No. 144/2025) has been registered at Police Station Leh under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The Sonam Wangchuk Detention and Supreme Court Challenge
While the judicial probe is underway, a major source of contention remains the continued detention of renowned climate activist and Magsaysay Award winner, Sonam Wangchuk, under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). Mr. Wangchuk, a key leader of the movement, was detained on September 26, 2025, and subsequently shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan.
Leh Administration Defends NSA Action
The District Magistrate (DM) of Leh, Romil Singh Donk, who issued the detention order, filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court strongly defending the action. The affidavit asserted that the detention was based on a “subjective satisfaction” that Wangchuk was “indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the State, maintenance of public order and services essential to the community.” The DM cited reports that Wangchuk’s speeches, which allegedly included references to “self-immolation,” had the potential to incite violence. The administration maintained that the detention was “lawful” and that all statutory safeguards, including communicating the grounds of detention within five days, were met.
Habeas Corpus Petition in Apex Court
Mr. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the detention as “illegal, arbitrary, and politically motivated.” The petition argues that invoking the NSA is an attempt to “silence a respected environmentalist” who was merely exercising his constitutional right to peaceful protest for the protection of Ladakh’s fragile ecology. The plea also alleged that a “systematic campaign” was launched to malign the activist, including false propaganda linking him to foreign entities. The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing to October 29, 2025, after allowing Ms. Angmo to amend her plea to formally challenge the grounds of detention. The Centre also informed the court it would permit Mr. Wangchuk to share notes with his lawyer.
The simultaneous launch of a high-level judicial probe and the ongoing legal battle over a prominent activist’s detention underscore the deep political and civil tensions facing the Union Territory.
