The Ladakh administration has directed the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) to stop classes and other activities at Desert Flower School in Phyang, Leh, until the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh decides a pending land dispute.

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A notice was issued to Gitanjali J. Angmo, HIAL's founder and CEO and the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who founded the institute. According to the administration, school activities were reportedly being started without the necessary consent, clearances and approvals.

The authorities have directed HIAL to maintain the status quo and refrain from taking steps towards the school's functioning until the court delivers its final decision. The school was preparing to begin a new academic session and had sought a no-objection certificate (NOC), which had not been granted, according to the report. Angmo rejected the notice as baseless, saying a reply had been sent and attributing the delay in obtaining the NOC to the authorities.

The dispute follows the cancellation of HIAL's land allotment in August 2025. The institute subsequently approached the High Court. In an affidavit filed last month, the administration alleged that HIAL had occupied the land without paying the required dues. These remain allegations reported in the ongoing dispute, rather than a final judicial finding. 
The latest directive maintains the restriction on school activities while the legal proceedings continue. The dispute remains unresolved, and the administration's order does not amount to a final court ruling on the matter.