Section 3E of Central Universities Act, 2009: Establishment of Sindhu Central University

Section 3E of the Central Universities Act, 2009 provides the statutory basis for Sindhu Central University in the Union Territory of Ladakh. It establishes the University as a body corporate and gives it territorial jurisdiction over the whole of Ladakh, as reflected in the First Schedule to the Act.

Text of Section 3E

3E. Establishment of Sindhu Central University. - There shall be established a University, which shall be a body corporate, to be known as the Sindhu Central University, having its territorial jurisdiction extending to the whole of the Union territory of Ladakh, as specified in the First Schedule to this Act.

Meaning and legal effect of Section 3E

The provision performs three principal legal functions. First, it establishes Sindhu Central University by statute. Second, it declares the University to be a body corporate, giving it a separate legal identity under the Central Universities Act, 2009. Third, it fixes the University's territorial jurisdiction as the entire Union Territory of Ladakh.

Statutory establishment: Sindhu Central University is established under the Central Universities Act, 2009 as amended.
Body corporate: The University has a distinct corporate legal status and functions subject to the Act, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations made under it.
Territorial jurisdiction: Its jurisdiction extends to the whole Union Territory of Ladakh.
First Schedule: The First Schedule identifies Ladakh and Sindhu Central University and records the University's territorial jurisdiction.

How Section 3E was inserted

Section 3E was inserted by the Central Universities (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act 27 of 2021). The amendment also inserted the corresponding entry in the First Schedule for Ladakh and Sindhu Central University. The provisions relating to the establishment of Sindhu Central University were brought into force with effect from 6 July 2022.

Current legal position: Section 3E continues to appear in the current consolidated text of the Central Universities Act, 2009 published on India Code. Later amendments have added further universities under Sections 3F and 3G, but Section 3E remains the provision establishing Sindhu Central University for Ladakh.

Sindhu Central University and Ladakh

Sindhu Central University serves the Union Territory of Ladakh. Its official university website identifies its location at Village Khaltsi, District Leh, Ladakh. The University's statutory jurisdiction, however, is not confined to its campus location; Section 3E extends that jurisdiction to the whole Union Territory of Ladakh.

Related provisions of the Central Universities Act, 2009

Section 3E should be read with the wider scheme of the Act, including the provisions dealing with the establishment and legal effect of Central Universities, their objects, powers, officers, authorities, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations.

Official legal references

Last reviewed: 15 September 2026. Readers should verify amendments and notifications from India Code and other official Government sources for the most current legal position.