Leh, Oct 18: Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday inaugurated the newly established Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Melongthang in Leh, marking a significant milestone in bringing constitutional justice closer to the people of the Union Territory.
The new bench is expected to ease the hardships faced by litigants who have long had to travel to Srinagar or Jammu to pursue their cases, often incurring substantial expenses and losing time due to difficult terrain and harsh climatic conditions.
Hearing of cases at the Leh bench is scheduled to commence on October 21. The High Court has identified 75 cases for listing before the bench, with a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjay Parihar set to take up the initial batch.
Upon his arrival, the Chief Justice of India was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour, following which he unveiled the inauguration plaque and toured the court complex. The formal proceedings began with the National Song and National Anthem, followed by a welcome address by Chief Justice Bhati.
The ceremony was attended by Supreme Court Justices M MSundresh, P S Narasimha and ArunPalli; Attorney General for India R Venkataramani; Lieutenant Governor of LadakhVinai Kumar Saxena; Chief Justice Bhati and other judges of the High Court; and Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kumar Kundra. Former Chief Justice of the High Court Justice TashiRabstan, senior judicial officers, representatives of the Bar Associations of Leh and Kargil, and officials of the civil administration, police and other departments were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Surya Kant said the significance of the new bench lay not merely in its location at an altitude of around 3,500 metres but in its proximity to the people it serves.
“Access to justice, after all, begins not in the Court’s compound, but at the litigant’s door,” he said.
The CJI emphasised the role of technology, legal aid and e-SewaKendras in ensuring that people in remote areas could access judicial services without geographical barriers.
He announced that the Supreme Court would list matters originating from Ladakh on a single day once adequate video-conferencing facilities were available to lawyers practising before the new bench. The apex court would also hear such matters through video conferencing on a day-to-day basis, enabling lawyers from Leh and Kargil to argue cases without travelling to New Delhi.
The arrangement, he said, would reduce the time and expense involved in pursuing cases before the country’s highest court.
Digital initiatives and green infrastructure
A major highlight of the inauguration was the launch of digital and infrastructure initiatives intended to modernise judicial functioning and improve access to justice.
The CJI launched the e-Filing Portal and Document Management System (DMS) for the Ladakh Bench, along with the High Court’s Online Recruitment Portal. The e-Filing Portal will enable advocates and litigants, particularly those living in remote areas, to file cases electronically without travelling to the court. The DMS will facilitate digital management of judicial records, while the recruitment portal is intended to promote transparency, accessibility and efficiency in recruitment for the High Court and district judiciary.
The Ladakh Bench will function as a fully IT-enabled, paperless court. The court complex houses a digitisationcentre, filing counter, bar room, litigants’ sitting area, conference room and video-conferencing room.
The CJI also virtually inaugurated the Green Wall initiative, symbolising the judiciary’s commitment to environmental conservation and ecological sustainability in Ladakh. The initiative was marked by the presentation of planters to dignitaries and the screening of a short video.
Justice Surya Kant also initiated work for the installation of solar power systems at 11 locations, reinforcing the judiciary’s focus on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
In his special address, Lieutenant Governor Saxena welcomed the establishment of the bench and highlighted the importance of the Green Wall initiative in protecting Ladakh’s fragile environment.
He described the new bench as a “historic milestone” and a new era of accessible justice. In a post on X, Saxena said the initiative would fulfil a long-standing demand of the people by reducing distant travel and financial burdens while strengthening the judicial system in the Union Territory.
He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister NarendraModi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support in advancing institutional development and inclusive growth in Ladakh.
The establishment of the bench was approved by the Union Government in August, after which the High Court designated Leh as the sitting venue on October 5.
Judicial leaders underline access to justice
In his welcome address, Chief Justice Bhati said access to justice had been the guiding principle behind the establishment of the Ladakh Bench. He described the creation of a constitutional court in one of the world’s highest-altitude regions as a significant step towards ensuring judicial access for people living in geographically challenging areas.
Supreme Court Justices M MSundresh, P S Narasimha and ArunPalli, along with Attorney General R Venkataramani, also addressed the gathering.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Chief Secretary Ashish Kumar Kundra, followed by the National Song and National Anthem.
Separately, a ceremonial bench of the High Court was held in Leh under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Bhati to commemorate the inauguration. Thirteen other High Court judges participated in the proceedings, reflecting the significance attached to the establishment of the new bench.
Addressing the ceremonial sitting, Deputy Solicitor General of India for the Jammu Wing Vishal Sharma described the bench as a reaffirmation of the constitutional promise of accessible justice, strengthening the rule of law and bringing constitutional remedies closer to the people.
Deputy Solicitor General of India for the Srinagar Wing Tahir Majid Shamsi traced the evolution of judicial institutions in Ladakh since 2019. He said regular judicial sittings, digital facilities and legal aid would substantially alleviate the difficulties faced by litigants.
Advocate GonboStobgyal, president of the Bar Association, Leh, described the inauguration as the fulfilment of a long-cherished aspiration of the people and assured the judiciary of the Bar’s cooperation in the effective administration of justice.
Advocate Reyaz Ahmad Khan, president of the Bar Association, Kargil, also termed the establishment of the bench a historic milestone and acknowledged the sustained efforts of the judicial leadership in bringing justice closer to the region.
Chief Justice Bhati said the people of Ladakh had endured difficult terrain, harsh weather and substantial travel expenses to pursue cases in Srinagar and Jammu. The permanent bench, he said, would help ensure that geographical isolation did not translate into judicial exclusion.
He expressed gratitude to the CJI, the Union Government, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ladakh administration for their collective efforts in translating the initiative into reality.
Bhati also urged the Bench and the Bar to uphold constitutional values, safeguard the rights of vulnerable sections and protect Ladakh’s fragile environment, envisioning the new institution as a source of fairness and timely justice for generations to come.
A significant development during the ceremonial proceedings was the adoption of a Full Court resolution calling for improved access to education and 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 isolation, long travel distances and inadequate accommodation, the resolution called for greater legal awareness and coordinated efforts involving educational institutions, legal services authorities and other stakeholders to ensure equal educational opportunities.
The Full Court requested the Regular Bench to take further action on the matter.
The inauguration of the Ladakh Bench, alongside the introduction of digital facilities and sustainable infrastructure initiatives, is expected to strengthen local judicial services, reduce the burden on litigants and improve access to constitutional remedies across the Union Territory.
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