A Ceremonial Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, presided over by Hon’ble Dr. Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, was held at Leh today to commemorate the historic inauguration of the Ladakh Bench, marking a significant milestone in bringing constitutional justice closer to the people of the Union Territory.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Sindhu Sharma, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Dhar, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rahul Bharti, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohd. Yousuf Wani, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Parihar, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shahzad Azeem and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Yash Paul Bourney, Judges of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, also graced the Bench.
Addressing the Ceremonial Bench, Mr. 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.
Mr. Tahir Majid Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General of India, Srinagar Wing, traced the evolution of judicial institutions in Ladakh since 2019 and observed that regular judicial sittings, digital facilities and legal aid would substantially alleviate the hardships faced by litigants.
Advocate Gonbo Stobgyal, President, Bar Association, Leh, termed the occasion the fulfilment of a long-cherished aspiration of the people of Ladakh and assured the fullest cooperation of the Bar in the effective administration of justice.
Advocate Reyaz Ahmad Khan, President, Bar Association, Kargil, described the establishment of the Bench as a historic milestone and acknowledged the sustained efforts of the judicial leadership in bringing justice closer to the people.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Dr. Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, described the establishment of the Ladakh Bench as the realization of a decades-long aspiration for accessible, inclusive and equitable justice. His Lordship observed that the people of Ladakh had long endured difficult terrain, harsh climatic conditions and substantial travel expenses to pursue their cases at Srinagar and Jammu. The establishment of a permanent Bench would ensure that geographical isolation no longer translated into judicial exclusion.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice expressed profound gratitude to Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, for his visionary leadership and acknowledged the collective efforts of the Union Government, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Union Territory Administration in translating this historic initiative into reality within a short span. His Lordship emphasized the responsibility of the Bench and the Bar to uphold constitutional values, safeguard the rights of vulnerable sections and preserve Ladakh’s fragile environment. Expressing optimism about the future, His Lordship envisioned the Ladakh Bench as a beacon of fairness, truth and timely justice for generations to come.
On the occasion, the Full Court adopted a resolution emphasizing the need to promote access to education and provide safe, accessible and affordable residential facilities for girl students in Ladakh, particularly those belonging to remote and far-flung areas. Recognizing the challenges of geographical remoteness, long travel distances and inadequate accommodation, the Full Court called for enhanced legal awareness and coordinated efforts among educational institutions, legal services authorities and other stakeholders to ensure equal educational opportunities. The resolution also requested the Regular Bench to take further action in the matter.
The occasion was also graced by the presence of the spouses of the Hon’ble Judges of the High Court. Ms. Aishwarya Bhati and Ms. Archana Pathak Dave, Additional Solicitors General of India, were also present.
Officers of the Registry of the High Court, including Mr. Haq Nawaz Zargar, Principal Secretary to Hon’ble the Chief Justice; Mr. Rajeev Gupta, Registrar Vigilance; Mr. Umesh Sharma, Registrar Information Technology; Mr. Faizan-i-Nazar, Central Project Coordinator, eCourts; and Mr. Chemit Yurgal, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kargil, who has been entrusted with overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the Registry of the Ladakh Bench, also attended the proceedings.
Mr. Jatinder Jamwal, Law Secretary, UT of Ladakh; Ms. Spalzes Angmo, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh; and Mr. Sheikh Gowhar Hussain, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kargil, along with their respective teams of Judicial Officers, were also present.
The proceedings of the Ceremonial Bench were conducted by Mr. M.K. Sharma, Registrar General of the High Court.
