Ladakh is set to have a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with the Union Cabinet on Thursday clearing its establishment in the Union Territory.
The new bench will expand the High Court’s presence beyond Jammu and Srinagar, where its two existing benches are located. With the addition of Ladakh, the High Court will function through three benches while continuing to serve both Union Territories.
The move is intended to reduce the difficulties faced by litigants in Ladakh in reaching High Court services, particularly in remote areas where long geographical distances can affect access to judicial institutions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the Cabinet decision through a post on social media platform X. He said establishing the bench would cut the time required by people in Ladakh’s remote areas to access legal services available to them.
Cabinet Decision Comes Seven Years After Ladakh Became UT
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory in 2019 following the reorganisation of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. The latest decision forms part of the institutional and administrative developments that have followed the reorganisation.
Shah also said the government remained committed to Ladakh’s development and to providing constitutional safeguards to its people.
Until the Ladakh bench becomes operational, the High Court continues to function through its Jammu and Srinagar benches.
