The Ministry of home affairs on Friday announced the appointment of former Supreme Court Justice BS Chauhan to conduct a judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence in Leh, which resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to several others during protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The announcement comes a day ahead of a planned protest march and blackout in Leh, organised in solidarity with those killed, injured, or arrested during the police action.
Justice Chauhan served as a judge of the Supreme Court between 2009 and 2014.
Prior to that, he was the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and held judgeships at the Allahabad and Rajasthan High Courts.
After retiring from the Supreme Court, he chaired the Law Commission from 2016 to 2018 and later led the inquiry commission that cleared the Uttar Pradesh Police in the alleged encounter killing of gangster Vikas Dubey.
The Ministry of home affairs said that Justice Chauhan will be assisted by retired District and Sessions Judge Mohan Singh Parihar as Judicial Secretary and IAS officer Tushar Anand as Administrative Secretary.
In its press release, the MHA said, “In order to ensure an impartial inquiry the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, today, notified a Judicial Inquiry to be conducted by Hon'ble Dr. Justice B. S. Chauhan into the circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, the police action and the resultant unfortunate death of the four individuals.”
The Leh Apex Body and other political and religious groups leading the agitation had demanded a judicial probe into the police action as one of the conditions for resuming talks with the Union government.
LAB members have alleged that the government has made no effort to restart discussions or address their demands.
The MHA reaffirmed the central government’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the residents of Ladakh.
The press release stated, “We would continue to welcome the discussion with Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance through the High Powered Committee on Ladakh or any such platform. We are confident that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in near future. The Government stands committed to the aspiration of people of Ladakh.”
On September 24, security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters, resulting in four deaths and over 70 injuries.
Following the incident, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions, suspended mobile Internet, and arrested more than 70 people, including LAB leader Sonam Wangchuk, who was charged under the National Security Act.
Some restrictions have since been eased and Internet access restored, though groups like LAB and KDA dispute claims of normalcy.
Scheduled talks on autonomy demands on October 6 were called off by protesters, who continue to insist on a judicial inquiry and the release of all detainees, including Wangchuk.
