CJI Surya Kant to inaugurate permanent High Court Bench in Leh

High Court Bench in Leh opens new chapter for judicial infrastructure

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will inaugurate a permanent Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Leh on Sunday. The milestone establishes direct higher judicial access for residents of the Union Territory, resolving long-standing logistical hurdles caused by extreme weather and rugged mountain terrain.

Four Supreme Court judges, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, all sitting judges of the High Court, and Attorney General of India R Venkataramani will accompany Chief Justice Surya Kant for the inauguration ceremony in Leh.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra announced details of the opening on Saturday, calling it a historic leap forward for administrative delivery and legal access in the region.

Proactive governance delivers justice to remote communities

Until now, litigants from remote corners of Ladakh had to travel hundreds of kilometres to Srinagar or Jammu to file writ petitions or present matters before the High Court. That journey, often made across high-altitude passes prone to severe winter blockades, created formidable challenges for local citizens.

Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra noted that the establishment of the Bench was executed swiftly within two months. He highlighted that the decision originated as a proactive initiative by the central government, recognizing the unique geographic constraints under which the people of Ladakh live.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their steadfast commitment to expanding judicial infrastructure and strengthening local administration across the territory.

Statutory process and broader institutional commitment

The legal framework allowing a permanent Bench in Leh came into force on September 5. President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the underlying regulation on August 27, after which the Lieutenant Governor issued the official gazette notification fixing the implementation date.

Official representatives noted that establishing a permanent sitting Bench of this nature is a rare structural expansion, comparing the move to historic setups created for the Gauhati High Court in the North East.

The inauguration in Leh caps a busy schedule for Chief Justice Surya Kant, who recently addressed law graduates at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru, calling on young professionals to uphold constitutional values and maintain unwavering commitment to public service.