Centre Decides To Set Up Bench Of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir At Ladakh

In a significant move, the Union Cabinet, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh.

Home Minister Amit Shah, through a post on his X wrote, "This will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to avail themselves of the legal services they are entitled to. The Govt is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards."

The High Court has at present a sanctioned strength of 25 Judges including 19 Permanent Judges and 6 Additional Judges.

From May to end October, the Chief Justice and the Administrative Wing of High Court shifts to Srinagar and from November to end April, the HQ is at Jammu. However, Court sections of both the Jammu and Srinagar Wings of the High Court function throughout the year.

Notably, in its historic verdict, the Supreme Court of India had in 2023 upheld the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India which accorded "special status" to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the 476-page judgment, the Constitution Bench also upheld the validity of the decision to carve out the Union Territory of Ladakh in view of Article 3(a) read with Explanation I which permits forming a Union Territory by separation of a territory from any State.