File Photo Of J&K High Court
The Union Cabinet has decided to set up a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.
Shah said the move will improve access to justice for people living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to access legal services.
He added that the government remains committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and ensuring constitutional safeguards.
Why is the bench important?
Ladakh is a vast, mountainous Union Territory where travelling long distances can be difficult, particularly for people who need to appear in court or seek legal assistance.
At present, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is a common High Court for both Union Territories. The Department of Justice lists Jammu and Srinagar as the principal seats of the High Court.
The proposed bench in Ladakh is expected to reduce the need for residents to travel outside the Union Territory for matters requiring access to the High Court. This could make justice more accessible for people living in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
What happened after 2019?
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory on October 31, 2019, following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The reorganisation also resulted in the existing High Court becoming the common High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Ladakh does not have a separate High Court of its own.
The latest decision is therefore aimed at strengthening judicial access within the Union Territory rather than creating a separate High Court for Ladakh.
