LEH, OCT 24: In a significant step towards improving access to justice for residents of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Jammu Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) held a circuit sitting at the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, Melongthang, Leh, on Saturday, hearing more than 30 cases pertaining exclusively to applicants and petitioners from Ladakh.
The sitting was presided over by Justice Sanjeev Gupta, Member (Judicial), and Pragya Sahay Saksena, Member (Administrative). The initiative provided litigants from Ladakh an opportunity to pursue their cases locally, reducing the need to undertake long and often difficult journeys to Jammu to attend Tribunal proceedings.
Organised by the Department of Law and Justice, Ladakh, the circuit sitting forms part of the established practice of taking the justice delivery system closer to the people. During the proceedings, the Bench heard more than 30 cases, and appropriate relief was granted to aggrieved parties in a number of matters in accordance with law.
At the commencement of the sitting, the Tribunal Members were accorded a traditional welcome with khataks by Shahnawaz Ali, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Law, on behalf of Administrative Secretary, Law, Jatinder Singh Jamwal, and the staff of the Department. The traditional reception reflected Ladakh’s cultural hospitality and marked the beginning of the proceedings.
The sitting witnessed participation by advocates, departmental law officers, litigants, applicants, petitioners and other stakeholders. Among the advocates present were Raghu Mehta, who participated virtually, Mohd Shafi Lassu, Nissar Ladakhi, Akhil Bardi, Mustafa Haji and Tassaduq Abidi.
The proceedings were conducted smoothly with the cooperation of the Tribunal Bench, members of the Bar, concerned departments and litigants. Participants appreciated the opportunity to have their matters heard at Leh, making the judicial process more accessible to people who would otherwise face substantial travel and logistical challenges.
The Department of Law and Justice organises such circuit sittings at least twice a year, according to the press release. The arrangement assumes particular significance for Ladakh, where difficult geographical terrain, long distances and travel-related constraints can make attending proceedings outside the Union Territory challenging for litigants.
By facilitating hearings closer to the applicants’ place of residence, the circuit sitting aims to reduce the practical burden of litigation while improving access to the administrative justice system.
The latest sitting reinforces the importance of decentralised judicial access for residents of remote regions, ensuring that geographical barriers do not become an additional obstacle for people seeking legal remedies through the Tribunal.
