Ladakh administration orders Sonam Wangchuk's school to halt activities
The Desert Flower School must suspend operations until the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh decides on a pending land allotment matter.
The Ladakh administration on Tuesday ordered the Desert Flower School to stop all activities, according to reports from The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle. The school, located in Phyang, Leh, is run by Gitanjali Angmo, the wife and co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) alongside activist Sonam Wangchuk.
The administration stated that the school commenced classes and other activities without obtaining the necessary consent, clearances, or approvals from competent authorities. A notice issued by the Tehsildar of Leh directed Angmo to maintain the status quo to avoid prejudicing the case currently pending before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The dispute involves the allotment of land to HIAL. While HIAL was allotted more than 1,076 kanals of land at Phyang Thang in 2018, the administration cancelled the allotment in August 2025. The administration has argued in court that the allotment lapsed in May 2019 because HIAL failed to execute the lease deed and pay required premiums.
The suspension of activities will remain in force until a final decision is made by the High Court or until further directions are issued. Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk has written to President Droupadi Murmu to seek intervention regarding the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh, where he says indigenous communities are resisting the project.