‘Former Supreme Court Judge Justice B.S. Chauhan to Lead Probe’
Diplomat Correspondent
New Delhi: DD, The Government of India has ordered a judicial inquiry into the Leh police firing incident of September 24, 2025, which resulted in the death of four individuals following a serious law and order situation in the town.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs), the inquiry will be conducted by Dr. Justice B.S. Chauhan, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, to examine the circumstances that led to the incident, the subsequent police action, and the resulting loss of lives.
The Ministry noted that FIR No. 144/2025 had been registered at Police Station Leh under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, pertaining to offences related to unlawful assembly, criminal force, and culpable homicide, among others.
The order emphasizes the government’s intention to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation into the matter.
“It is imperative to conduct an inquiry into the said incident by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India,” the notification reads.
Justice Chauhan will be assisted by two officials — Mohan Singh Parihar, Retired District and Sessions Judge, who will serve as Judicial Secretary, and Sh. Tushar Anand, IAS, who will function as Administrative Secretary to the commission.
The inquiry panel will review the sequence of events that triggered the law and order situation, assess whether the police response was proportionate, and identify any lapses in the handling of the protest.
The panel’s findings are expected to play a critical role in determining accountability and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Leh firing incident had sparked widespread public concern in Ladakh, with civil society groups and local organizations demanding a judicial probe into the deaths and alleged excessive use of force by police.
With this notification, the Centre has formally responded to those calls, entrusting the inquiry to a former Supreme Court judge known for his experience in judicial commissions and legal reforms. [KNT]
