A ceremonial sitting of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, presided over by Chief Justice Dr Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, was held in Leh on October 18 to commemorate the historic inauguration of the Ladakh Bench, marking a significant step towards bringing constitutional justice closer to the people of the Union Territory.

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 sitting, Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India, Jammu Wing, described the establishment of the Ladakh Bench as a reaffirmation of the constitutional promise of accessible justice, strengthening the rule of law and bringing constitutional remedies closer to the people.

Tahir Majid Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General of India, Srinagar Wing, traced the evolution of judicial institutions in Ladakh since 2019. He observed that regular judicial sittings, digital facilities and legal aid would significantly reduce the hardships faced by litigants.

Advocate Gonbo Stobgyal, President of the Bar Association, Leh, described the occasion as the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the people of Ladakh and assured the Bar's full 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 people.

Chief Justice Dr Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati described the Ladakh Bench as the realisation of a decades-long aspiration for accessible, inclusive and equitable justice. He noted that people in Ladakh had long faced difficult terrain, harsh climatic conditions and substantial travel expenses to pursue cases in Srinagar and Jammu. The permanent Bench, he said, would help ensure that geographical isolation did not become a barrier to justice.

He expressed gratitude to Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant for his leadership and acknowledged the collective efforts of the Union Government, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the UT Administration in establishing the Bench within a short period. He also emphasised the responsibility of the Bench and the Bar to uphold constitutional values, protect vulnerable sections of society and preserve Ladakh's fragile environment.

On the occasion, the Full Court adopted a resolution emphasising 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 resolution called for greater legal awareness and coordinated efforts among educational institutions, legal services authorities and other stakeholders to ensure equal educational opportunities. It also requested the Regular Bench to take further action on the matter.

Senior officers of the High Court Registry, including Haq Nawaz Zargar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Justice; Rajeev Gupta, Registrar Vigilance; Umesh Sharma, Registrar Information Technology; Faizan-i-Nazar, Central Project Coordinator, eCourts; and Chemit Yurgal, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kargil, who has been entrusted with overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the Ladakh Bench Registry, were also present.

Jatinder Jamwal, Law Secretary, UT Ladakh; Spalzes Angmo, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh; and Sheikh Gowhar Hussain, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kargil, attended the proceedings along with their respective teams of judicial officers.

The ceremonial sitting was conducted by M. K. Sharma, Registrar General of the High Court.