Fresh trouble for Sonam Wangchuk's HIAL as Ladakh orders school to halt classes

The notice, issued by the Tehsildar of Leh, is addressed to Dr Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk's wife and the founder and CEO of HIAL.

The administration has asked her to maintain the status quo at Desert Flower School in Leh and refrain from taking any steps that could affect the ongoing proceedings before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Why has the Ladakh administration issued the notice?

According to the notice, Angmo had approached the Leh Deputy Commissioner on September 22, seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) or clearance for the proposed members of the managing committee of Desert Flower School at Phyang, which operates under the HIAL ecosystem.

However, the administration alleged that the school had already commenced classes and other activities without obtaining the required consent or approvals from the concerned authorities.

The notice advised Angmo against undertaking any action related to the school's functioning or commencement of activities until the High Court decides the matter or issues further directions.

The administration also instructed her to strictly maintain the status quo to ensure that no action prejudices the case pending before the court.

What is the HIAL land dispute?

The latest notice comes amid an ongoing legal battle between HIAL and the Ladakh administration over the cancellation of land allotted to the institute.

In May 2018, HIAL was allotted 1,076 kanals and one marla of land at Phyang Thang to establish an alternative university focused on sustainable development in the Himalayan region.

The allotment was proposed under a 40-year lease, subject to certain conditions.

However, on August 21, 2025, the Ladakh administration cancelled the allotment, alleging that HIAL had failed to complete the lease formalities and establish the proposed university.

HIAL challenged the cancellation before the High Court.

In September 2026, the court restrained the administration from creating third-party rights over the disputed land while the petition was being heard.

However, the interim order did not overturn the cancellation itself.

Why did Ladakh cancel the land allotment?

In October 2026, the administration defended its decision through a 136-page affidavit, claiming that the land allotment had automatically lapsed in May 2019.

According to the administration, HIAL had failed to execute the lease deed and deposit the mandatory land premium within the stipulated one-year period.

It also cited an October 2026 certification from Ladakh's Higher Education Department, which stated that HIAL was not a recognised university and that its courses did not have statutory affiliation.

Wangchuk, wife dispute administration's claims

Angmo has contested the administration's version, claiming that HIAL had applied for execution of the lease deed on May 20, 2018, just 15 days after the land was allotted, and repeatedly followed up with the authorities.

Wangchuk has also accused the administration of delaying the process. He claimed that he made five written appeals, visited government offices 15 times and placed 30 phone calls to get the lease deed executed.

The activist has further cited an official communication from February 2021 which, according to him, acknowledged delays caused by Ladakh's transition into a Union Territory and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the communication allowed construction to continue while the lease formalities remained pending.

Wangchuk has alleged that the land dispute is part of an attempt to target him over his activism and demands concerning Ladakh.

The administration, however, has maintained that HIAL failed to fulfil the conditions attached to the original land allotment.

The latest notice has opened another front in the dispute, with the functioning of Desert Flower School now also coming under administrative scrutiny.