Kargil, Dec 3: Five councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) have approached the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, challenging the nomination of a Muslim member to the council by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta.

The petitioners argued that the nomination violates Section 4(2) of the LAHDC Act, 1997, which allows nominations only from the “principal religious minority” or women. They contended that in Kargil district, Buddhists are the principal religious minority, while Muslims form the majority.

The petition, filed by LAHDC Chairman Muhammad Jaffer Akhoon and councillors Kacho Muhammad Feroz, Aga Syeed Mujtaba Mussavi, Zakir Hussain, and Punchok Tashi, seeks to quash the nomination of advocate Reyaz Ahmed Khan, who was appointed on November 12. The petition notes that Khan had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 hill council elections on a national party ticket currently in power at the Union level.

Petitioners argued that the seat is legally intended to ensure representation for the Buddhist community or women, protecting minority interests. The High Court has yet to schedule a hearing in the matter.