Ladakh Admin Halts Activities at Sonam Wangchuk-Founded School
Ladakh administration orders Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning to stop activities at Desert Flower School over land dispute and lack of approvals.
The Ladakh administration has stepped in to halt operations at a school linked to the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), an institution co-founded by renowned innovator Sonam Wangchuk and Gitanjali J Angmo. In a formal notice, authorities have directed the school to cease all "unauthorised activities" while a land dispute remains pending in court.
Crackdown on Unauthorised Operations
The Office of the Tehsildar in Leh issued the directive to HIAL Founder and CEO Gitanjali J Angmo, specifically targeting the activities at the Desert Flower School in Phyang. According to the administration, the school had begun conducting classes and other educational activities without securing the mandatory clearances, consents, or approvals from the relevant government authorities.
The administration highlighted a discrepancy between the institution's formal requests and its actual ground operations. On September 22, Angmo had written to the Deputy Commissioner of Leh seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or clearance for the proposed members of the Managing Committee of the Desert Flower School under the HIAL ecosystem. However, officials claim they received reports that the school had already commenced its functions before these approvals were granted.
Legal Battle in High Court
A significant factor in this administrative action is the ongoing legal battle. The matter concerning HIAL is currently under deliberation before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Because the case is sub judice, the administration has insisted that no further steps be taken that could influence or prejudice the court's eventual decision.
"In view of the matter being under consideration before the Hon'ble Court, you are hereby advised not to undertake any action whatsoever in furtherance of the functioning or commencement of activities, until the matter is finally decided by the Hon'ble Court or until further directions are issued," the notice stated.
Strict Orders for Status Quo
The notice, issued by the Tehsildar of Leh on November 1, 2026, serves as a clear administrative restraint. The administration has explicitly ordered Angmo to maintain a strict status quo regarding the school's operations. This ensures that no new developments or activities take place that could complicate the pending legal proceedings.
The move places a temporary freeze on the educational ambitions of the Desert Flower School, leaving its future operations dependent on the verdict of the High Court.