LEH, OCT 18: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Sunday inaugurated the newly constituted Leh bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, marking a significant milestone in strengthening access to higher judicial services for residents of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The first hearings before the bench are scheduled to commence on October 21, with 75 cases identified for listing.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Supreme Court Justices M.M. Sundresh, P.S. Narasimha and Arun Palli, along with judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Attorney General for India R. Venkatramani and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena were also present at the event, reflecting the importance of the development for the region’s judicial infrastructure.
The commencement of proceedings in Leh is expected to make access to the High Court more convenient for litigants from Ladakh, who have traditionally had to travel considerable distances to pursue their cases before the existing benches at Jammu and Srinagar. Given the region’s vast geographical spread, mountainous terrain and challenging climatic conditions, the availability of High Court sittings within the Union Territory is expected to ease travel-related difficulties for litigants, advocates and other stakeholders.
According to the proposed judicial schedule, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjay Parihar is expected to hear five cases on Wednesday, October 21. Justice Parihar will also preside over a single-judge bench on Thursday and Friday, October 22 and 23, respectively.
The High Court has identified a total of 75 cases for listing before the bench in Leh. The commencement of hearings marks the transition from the administrative process of establishing the new judicial arrangement to the actual delivery of High Court services at the selected venue.
The initial schedule provides for proceedings before both a division bench and a single-judge bench, allowing cases assigned to the respective benches to be taken up according to the court’s roster and established judicial procedures.
The inauguration follows the Union Government’s approval in August 2026 for establishing the Ladakh bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Subsequently, on October 5, the High Court selected Leh as the venue for holding its sittings in the Union Territory.
The inauguration on October 18 represents a significant step in implementing the approved arrangement and bringing the higher judiciary physically closer to the people of the region.
Before this development, the High Court had its existing benches at Jammu and Srinagar. The new arrangement extends its judicial presence to Leh while retaining the institutional framework of a common High Court serving the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The establishment of the bench is particularly significant for residents of remote areas of Ladakh, where geographical distances and weather conditions can complicate travel. For litigants required to appear before the High Court, travelling outside the Union Territory can involve additional expenditure, logistical difficulties and time away from work and family responsibilities.
Holding High Court sittings in Leh is expected to reduce some of these practical barriers and make judicial proceedings more accessible to local residents. It is also expected to facilitate greater interaction among litigants, advocates and judicial authorities within the region.
Improved geographical accessibility is an important component of effective justice delivery, particularly in remote and sparsely populated regions. The new arrangement is intended to address the specific challenges faced by litigants in Ladakh while preserving the established jurisdiction and functioning of the High Court.
The availability of hearings in Leh may also help local advocates and other legal professionals participate more conveniently in proceedings, strengthening the region’s engagement with the higher judicial system.
The new bench will function as part of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and will not constitute a separate High Court. The common High Court continues to serve both Union Territories under the existing judicial framework.
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory on October 31, 2019, following the reorganisation of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the region has continued to develop its administrative and institutional arrangements as a Union Territory.
The establishment of High Court sittings in Leh represents an important development in the geographical reach of the existing judicial institution, bringing higher judicial proceedings closer to the people it serves.
The inauguration by the Chief Justice of India, in the presence of senior Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General for India and the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, highlights the institutional importance of the new arrangement.
With the first hearings scheduled for October 21 and 75 cases identified for listing, attention will now turn to the commencement of proceedings and the effective functioning of the bench.
The establishment of the Leh bench marks an important step towards making higher judicial services more accessible to the people of Ladakh, reducing geographical barriers to litigation and strengthening the delivery of justice across the Union Territory.
