Ladakh orders HIAL to halt school activities pending court case

The Ladakh administration has directed the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) and its chief executive, Gitanjali Angmo, to maintain the status quo and halt further activities at Desert Flower School while a land-allotment case is pending before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. A notice issued through the Leh Tehsildar says the administration received information that classes and other activities had begun at the school in Phyang without necessary consent, clearances or approvals. That is an allegation stated in the notice, not an independently established finding. The notice advises HIAL and Angmo not to take steps furthering the school’s functioning until the court decides the case or issues further directions, and cautions against action that could prejudice the proceedings. The court case concerns the administration’s cancellation, in August 2025, of the allotment of 1,076 kanals of land at Phyang to HIAL. Sonam Wangchuk challenged the cancellation, and the matter remains before the High Court. HIAL was established by Wangchuk, and Desert Flower School operates within its ecosystem. The administration’s position, set out in court, is that the...