LEH, Sept 22: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved Leh as the initial place of sitting for the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Bench in the Union Territory, following a recommendation from the Chief Justice of the High Court.
The recommendation was conveyed by the High Court’s Registrar General on September 15, based on judicial, administrative and infrastructure-related considerations.
According to judicial data placed before the Ladakh Administration, 423 cases are currently pending from the Union Territory, of which 252 cases originate from the Leh Division, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of the total pending cases.
The High Court noted that locating the initial sitting of the Bench in Leh would facilitate access to justice for a significant share of litigants and legal professionals from the region.
Leh’s status as the administrative headquarters of Ladakh was also considered. The city houses the Lok Niwas, Civil and Administrative Secretariat and offices of several government departments, which could facilitate coordination in cases involving the UT Administration.
The High Court also noted that suitable temporary infrastructure has already been identified in Leh, allowing the Bench to begin functioning while permanent infrastructure is developed.
Following the approval, the Department of Law & Justice, in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner of Leh, will make arrangements for the functioning of the Bench, including residential facilities for visiting judges and staff, security and other administrative requirements.
The approval has been granted under Section 2(2) of the Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026, which came into force on September 5, 2026.
