Ladakh Admin Issues Notice To Sonam Wangchuk's HIAL, Asks It To Halt School Activities

The Ladakh administration has directed the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, to halt classes and other activities at Desert Flower School in Leh until a pending land dispute is decided by the High Court. A notice issued on November 1 directs HIAL to maintain strict status quo, citing the alleged commencement of school activities without necessary approvals. Angmo has termed the notice baseless and blamed the authorities for delaying the school's NOC. The directive comes amid a legal dispute over HIAL's land allotment, cancelled by the administration in August 2025. It also follows Wangchuk's criticism of the Centre over Ladakh's demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards.