Cabinet Approves Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bench in Ladakh

The Union Cabinet has cleared the setting up of a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in Ladakh. This development to have far-reaching implications for ensuring that citizens gain access to justice. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah stated that this would make it easier for citizens to get their cases heard by the High Court as they would not have to cover long distances at present.

What Has the Union Cabinet Approved?

The Union Cabinet has cleared the setting up of a bench of the High Court in Ladakh in the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

It should be noted that the existing High Court provides services to two union territories which are Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. While the principal seats of the court are in Jammu and Srinagar, the setting up of a bench will help citizens get easy access to High Court services in the union territory of Ladakh.

Why Does Ladakh Need a High Court Bench?

Geographically, Ladakh is one of the most difficult places in India because of the terrain, weather conditions, and limited accessibility.

A High Court bench in Ladakh will,

• Decrease the travel time and costs of litigants.
• Help to improve access to legal services.
• Help to increase access to High Court processes for locals.
• Decrease the problems faced by lawyers and litigants.
• Increase institutional access in the Union Territory.

Home Minister of India’s Union, Amit Shah, confirmed that the government is determined to ensure all-round development of Ladakh and to maintain its constitutional guarantees.

Strengthening Access to Justice in Ladakh

Access to justice is an integral part of good governance, especially in hard-to-reach regions. The creation of a High Court bench will help overcome the obstacles faced by people during the process of accessing justice.

For people who live in remote areas, the process of accessing justice may be connected with not only procedural aspects but also with financial and physical obstacles. Therefore, the creation of a High Court bench in Ladakh will help to facilitate the process of justice delivery.

This decision corresponds to the strategy of the Central government to strengthen administrative and public service facilities in Ladakh, which is an important Himalayan region.

Union Territory Status of Ladakh

Ladakh was carved out as a new Union Territory on 31st October 2019 after the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Through this reorganisation process, two Union Territories J&K and Ladakh were formed while the J&K and Ladakh High Court remained the common High Court for both UTs.

The formation of a special bench of the High Court in Ladakh marks a major step forward for the institution since the formation of UT Ladakh.