Ladakh Admin Orders Shutdown of Sonam Wangchuk's Desert Flower School
The Ladakh administration has ordered the Desert Flower School to stop all activities, sparking allegations of vendetta against Sonam Wangchuk.
The Ladakh administration has sparked a major controversy by issuing a formal notice to the Sonam Wangchuk Desert Flower School in Phyang, Leh, demanding an immediate halt to all educational activities. The directive, which orders the cessation of all classes, has led to accusations of political vendetta against the renowned climate activist and innovator.
The Administration's Stand: Lack of Approvals
The notice was issued on November 1, 2026, by the Office of the Tehsildar in Leh. It was addressed to Gitanjali J. Angmo, who serves as the CEO of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) and is the wife of Sonam Wangchuk.
According to the authorities, the school has been operating without the necessary governmental approvals or a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC). The administration further emphasized that since a larger land allotment dispute involving HIAL is currently sub judice before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the institute must adhere to a strict status quo.
The Land Allotment Conflict
The current tension stems from a deeper legal battle. In August 2025, the administration cancelled the allotment of 1,076 kanals of land for HIAL, claiming that the institute had failed to comply with the established lease conditions. This decision is currently being challenged in court.
Wangchuk and HIAL Hit Back
Sonam Wangchuk has reacted sharply to the move, describing the official notice as an "imperial decree." He has publicly questioned the administration's priorities, asking why the government is focused on closing down schools rather than addressing more pressing societal issues. Wangchuk views this action as a targeted attempt to silence dissent.
Gitanjali J. Angmo has also refuted the claims made by the Tehsildar's office. She asserted that the institute had made repeated attempts to secure the required approvals, but these efforts were stalled by uncertainties in government policy. She characterized the administration's notice as misleading and designed to create panic and confusion among the parents of the students.
Outcry Over 'Spirit of Vendetta'
The move has drawn criticism from outside the immediate circle of the institute. Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), condemned the administration's actions, suggesting that the government should be learning from Wangchuk's innovative educational models rather than targeting them.
Dipke alleged that the administration is prioritizing a "spirit of vendetta" over the progress of education, arguing that the government should instead be working to replicate such institutions across the country.