CJI Surya Kant Opens Ladakh’s First High Court Bench in Leh

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday inaugurated the Ladakh bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Leh, giving the Union Territory its first permanent High Court bench. Supreme Court judges M M Sundresh, P S Narasimha and Arun Palli, Attorney General R Venkataramani and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena attended, Bar and Bench and LiveLaw reported.

Hearings From October 21

A division bench of Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjay Parihar is expected to hear the first five cases on October 21, and the High Court has identified 75 cases for listing before the Ladakh bench, LiveLaw reported. The Centre approved the bench in August, and the High Court chose Leh as its seat on October 5.

The Chief Justice also said that once video-conferencing facilities are in place for lawyers at the Ladakh bench, the Supreme Court will list all matters from Ladakh on a single day and hear them day to day by video, PTI reported. Lawyers in Leh and Kargil would then be able to argue Supreme Court cases without travelling to Delhi.

Why It Matters for Ladakh’s Residents

Until now, people in Ladakh had to take High Court cases to Jammu or Srinagar, a long and costly journey across high mountain passes that are often closed in winter. A bench in Leh means farmers, small traders, government employees and families in land or service disputes can have their cases heard close to home, and with less time lost to travel.

The promise of single-day virtual listing in the Supreme Court could also cut the cost of appeals for a region where few lawyers practise in Delhi. Read IPB’s recent report on the Supreme Court’s ruling on internet access, and more in Daily Updates.

Based on reporting by Bar and Bench, LiveLaw, PTI via ThePrint and Kashmir Life.

Image: Leh Palace / Wikimedia Commons.