Sonam Wangchuk’s HIAL severely violates rights of a Muslim woman; Ladakh UT Adm
Leh, November 5; In a stark contradiction to its much hyped “progressive and humanitarian ethos”, Sonam Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternative Ladakh (HIAL), is at the centre of a severe violation of labour laws and systemic mistreatment of a new mother, a Muslim woman who was working with the Wangchuk’s since 2023, claimed Ladakh’s UT administration in a detailed statement issued here on Thursday.
Amina Khatoon, an employee who worked at HIAL throughout her pregnancy, has dragged HIAL to the Ladakh Labour Court, after being abruptly discarded during her most vulnerable postpartum days.
The woman has accused that HIAL not only stripped of her rightful 26-week statutory maternity pay, but also locked out of corporate communications within a month of giving birth, and denied the vital experience certificate needed to secure her family’s future.
Since then, Khatoon has been made to run from pillar to post with her newborn.
Taking note of the complaint, a case (case no. 22) was registered at the court of the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Leh, on 27 June 2026, and the first notice was issued to Gitanjali Angmo, CEO HIAL (Non-applicant no. 1) and Deachen, HR HIAL (Non-applicant no. 2). Subsequently after receiving no response, notices were issued by the labor court to the two on 02 July 2026, 13 August 2026, 28 August 2026.
The final notice was issued on 08 September 2026.
However, despite repeated notices issued by the labour court to Gitanjali Angmo for appearing before it, she refused to appear before the court.
The matter is listed for 7 November for final orders in the case.
In her complaint filed before the court, Khatoon said she worked continuously throughout her pregnancy until proceeding on her contractually and legally mandated maternity leave on March 9, 2024.
Despite submitting all requisite medical and delivery documentation within the prescribed timelines, she alleges that the institution has withheld her 26 weeks of statutory maternity salary without assigning any valid or lawful justification.
The complaint details a series of distressing events following the birth of her child. Khatoon stated that within a month of delivering her baby, she was abruptly removed from the official team communication groups and her corporate email address was deactivated.
This sudden termination of access, coupled with absolute silence from the management regarding her rejoining status, “inflicted severe mental agony, anxiety, and sleep deprivation during an already vulnerable postpartum phase.” khatoon said
Furthermore, Khatoon has brought to the court’s attention the collateral damage to her professional career. Upon attempting to return to the office, she was turned away and told to wait for an HR update that never arrived.
In the absence of either a formal termination notice or a rejoining confirmation, they reportedly withheld her Experience Certificate for quite some.
As a direct consequence of this withholding, Khatoon lost vital career opportunities, including prospective employment with premier organisations such as Engineers India Limited (EIL).
The petition underscores that despite exhaustive, months-long follow-ups via emails and messages addressed directly to Gitanjali Angmo, the HR team, and HIAL founder Sonam Wangchuk, the management refused to provide any clear resolution or release the pending dues, prompting the worker to seek judicial remedy.
Left with no option, Khatoon approached the Labour Court, Leh seeking immediate intervention of the authorities to direct HIAL to release all withheld maternity benefits, and address the arbitrary and non-procedural severing of employment ties.
The Court of the Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC), Leh, has issued a strict and final notice to the non-applicants in the ongoing dispute regarding the non-payment and delayed payment of earned wages, filed under Section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, and the relevant provisions of the Code on Wages, 2019.
Despite multiple hearings scheduled on 29 June 2026, 07 July 2026, 13 July 2026, and 17 August 2026, and notwithstanding the formal service of notices, non-applicants Gitanjali Angmo and Deachen appeared only once on 13 July 2026.
“They have failed to attend the remaining proceedings without providing any sufficient cause. The Authority has noted that this continuous non-appearance reflects a deliberate non-compliance with the statutory proceedings initiated under the prevailing labour laws. The Authority has now granted a last and final opportunity to the non-applicants to appear before the court on 15 September 2026. Take Notice that in the event of a failure to appear, the Authority shall proceed with the matter under Section 5 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. Non-Applicant No. 1 (Gitanjali Angmo) is strictly directed to attend the proceedings without fail. A continuous failure to comply will result in the initiation of permissible coercive legal action, entirely at the non-applicant’s own risk as to costs and legal consequences,” read the final notice issued by the court.
However, in complete disregard of the final notice for appearance on 15 September, Gitanjali Angmo refused to appear and record her statement before the court, prompting it to put up the matter for 7 November 2026 for final orders.
Notably, this shocking labor dispute is only the latest in a series of legal and administrative controversies involving HIAL. Wangchuk’s HIAL is currently embroiled in a massive controversy, with the Ladakh administration cancelling the institute’s sprawling 1,076-kanal land allotment in August 2025, for HIAL’s failure to execute the lease deed, pay the required licence fees and gross violations of land use.
On November 1, 2026, the Leh administration issued a formal notice to HIAL CEO Gitanjali Angmo, ordering the institute to immediately halt classes and activities at its newly opened Desert Flower School, pending the final decision in the case, which is pending before the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.
In the HC, the Ladakh administration has also accused Sonam Wangchuk of illegally grabbing public land, spreading false and provocative propaganda, and mobilizing staff and students of SECMOL and HIAL for violent agitations.