CJI Surya Kant inaugurates permanent Ladakh Bench in Leh

CJI Surya Kant inaugurated the permanent Ladakh Bench at a ceremonial sitting in Leh. The bench will reduce travel costs and improve judicial access across the Union Territory.

In Short

• Permanent bench reduces costly journeys to Srinagar and Jammu for litigants
• Judges emphasised constitutional values, vulnerable rights and Ladakh's environmental protection
• Digital facilities and legal aid promise quicker, more inclusive services

A ceremonial bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was held in Leh on Sunday to mark the inauguration of its Ladakh Bench by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The new bench is aimed at bringing justice closer to the people of the Union Territory. The ceremonial sitting was presided over by Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, an official spokesman told PTI.

The sitting was attended by High Court judges Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Sanjay Dhar, Justice Mohd Akram Chowdhary, Justice Rahul Bharti, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani, Justice Sanjay Parihar, Justice Shahzad Azeem and Justice Yash Paul Bourney.

Addressing the ceremonial bench, Justice Bhati said the establishment of the Ladakh Bench fulfilled a decades-long aspiration for accessible, inclusive and equitable justice.

He said people in Ladakh had long faced difficult terrain, harsh weather and substantial travel expenses while pursuing cases in Srinagar and Jammu. A permanent bench would ensure that geographical isolation did not result in exclusion from the justice system, he said.

Justice Bhati thanked the Chief Justice of India for his leadership and acknowledged the efforts of the Union government, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Union Territory administration in establishing the bench within a short period.

He also stressed the responsibility of the bench and the bar to uphold constitutional values, protect the rights of vulnerable sections and preserve Ladakh's fragile environment. He said he hoped the Ladakh Bench would uphold fairness, truth and timely justice for future generations.

Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India for the Jammu Wing, said the establishment of the bench reaffirmed the constitutional promise of accessible justice, strengthened the rule of law and brought constitutional remedies closer to the people.

Tahir Majid Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General of India for the Srinagar Wing, spoke about the development of judicial institutions in Ladakh since 2019. He said regular judicial sittings, digital facilities and legal aid would considerably reduce the difficulties faced by people pursuing cases.

Leh Bar Association president Gonbo Stobgyal said the occasion fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of Ladakh's people and assured the bar's full cooperation in the administration of justice.

Kargil Bar Association president Reyaz Ahmad Khan called the establishment of the Ladakh Bench a historic milestone and acknowledged the sustained efforts of the judicial leadership to bring justice closer to the people.

The full court also adopted a resolution stressing the need to improve access to education and provide safe, accessible and affordable residential facilities for girl students in Ladakh, particularly those from remote and far-flung areas.

Recognising the challenges posed by geographical remoteness, long travel distances and inadequate accommodation, the court called for greater legal awareness and coordinated efforts by educational institutions, legal services authorities and other stakeholders to ensure equal educational opportunities.

The resolution requested the Regular Bench to take further action in the matter, the spokesman told PTI.

The inauguration of the permanent Ladakh Bench is intended to reduce the travel and financial burden on people pursuing cases while improving access to judicial services across the Union Territory.

- Ends