Ladakh UT Constitutes Advisory Boards Under Key Preventive Laws, Retd. Justice Hanjura Appointed Chairperson

Jammu, Sep 27: In a significant administrative development, the Union Territory of Ladakh has constituted Advisory Boards under three major preventive detention and regulatory laws the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act. The decision, aimed at strengthening legal oversight and ensuring due process in preventive detention matters, was formalised through a notification (S.O. 112) issued by the Home Department on September 25, 2025, following the approval of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

According to the order, Justice M.K. Hanjura (Retd.), former Judge of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, has been appointed as Chairperson of the Advisory Boards. He will be joined by Principal District and Sessions Judge Leh, Manoj Parihar, and Principal District and Sessions Judge Kargil, Spalzes Angmo, as members. The terms and conditions of service for the Chairperson and Members will be notified separately.

The establishment of these boards is seen as a crucial step in ensuring statutory scrutiny of detentions and preventive measures taken under these stringent laws. Their formation assumes added significance in the current context of heightened law and order sensitivities in the Union Territory, particularly following the recent incidents of unrest and violence in Leh. Officials believe the boards will play a pivotal role in upholding legal safeguards, reviewing detention orders, and advising the administration on the appropriateness and necessity of such actions.