Vinai Kumar Saxena rolled out the decision in a packed gathering at Sankoo, where local leaders welcomed the change after years of petitions. The new district will house the tehsils of Sankoo, G.M. Pore, TSG and Taisuru, all of which will be transferred from Kargil’s jurisdiction.
Under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, a separate hill council has been notified for Sankoo, reducing Kargil Hill Council’s reach. The council will operate from the district headquarters and will be contested in elections scheduled for later this year.
The demand for district status dates back to a March delegation headed by Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon and MP Haneefa Jan, who urged the Union Home Ministry to create Sankoo and Shakar‑Chiktan. While the first five districts—Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass—were established in April, Sankoo was omitted until this Friday.
Saxena said officials would be appointed to run the new administration soon, and that the move is a “long‑standing aspiration” fulfilled. The announcement comes amid stalled talks on Ladakh’s future governance, with a second meeting slated for October 22 to address state‑hood and constitutional safeguards.