The Delhi High Court has been recently seeking a response from the Delhi Police over the plea by Sonam Wangchuk, a renowned environmentalist and engineer, who demanded permission to stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar. Other protesters have been lobbying for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh as it seeks constitutional special protections for the Union Territory.Led by Wangchuk and other activists, the marchers have walked from Leh to Delhi arguing that Ladakh has peculiar cultural and environmental concerns. He has stated how the lack of such measures may irreversibly damage the fragile Ladakhi environment and traditional way of life, especially in the face of intensifying developmental pressures. The Sixth Schedule has been in effect currently in four northeastern states-Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram-which has offered the regions certain legislative and administrative autonomy to preserve and sustain their distinctive customs and practices. Wangchuk and his fellow activists argue that Ladakh, with such a large tribal population and precarious ecological balance, warrants similar protection as would ensure sustainable development and safeguard indigenous culture in this region. Wangchuk requested to protest peacefully at the Jantar Mantar, a protest venue in the heart of New Delhi, was a response to the permission denied by Delhi Police. Jantar Mantar has been one of those venues for peaceful protest as well as the denial raises large questions about the right to peaceful assembly as it is protected by the Indian Constitution. Responding to this, Wangchuk moved the Delhi High Court for judicial intervention to permit his protest. Delhi High Court while hearing told the Delhi Police to present its response to Wangchuk's plea for permission to carry out the protest. The issue of public safety should not be overlooked, nor should the right to peaceful protest while being reminded by the Court that the right to assemble and raise grievances under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution is treated as a fundamental right even though some restrictions can be imposed in the interest of public order. Wangchuk's march and his call for Ladakh to be added to the Sixth Schedule has been quite in the headlines, all across the country. The movement more pointedly raised issues regarding the impact of long term strain of tourism and industrialization and infrastructural development on the ecosystem and the very identity of Ladakhi people. Much will, of course depend on the High Court verdict regarding the dharna at Jantar Mantar, not only for Wangchuk's cause but for the greater issue of balancing environmental and cultural preservation with development issues in Ladakh.