Cabinet approves High Court bench of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

Shah announced the Cabinet decision in a post on X, saying the move would significantly improve access to justice for people living in remote and far-flung areas of Ladakh.

“The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh,” Shah said.

He added that the new bench would reduce the time required for residents of remote areas of Ladakh to access the legal services they are entitled to.

The Home Minister said the government remained committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and ensuring constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.

EASIER ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR LADAKH CITIZENS

The establishment of the bench is expected to make High Court services more accessible to litigants, lawyers, and other stakeholders in Ladakh, where geographical distances can make access to judicial institutions difficult.

At present, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has its principal seats at Srinagar and Jammu. The proposed Ladakh bench will provide residents of the Union Territory with a closer judicial forum and reduce the need to undertake long journeys for High Court-related proceedings.

The decision comes against the backdrop of challenges related to judicial infrastructure and access to courts in the geographically challenging Union Territory.

According to data cited by The Tribune, 44,557 cases were pending before the High Court as of July 30, 2026, including 6,106 cases pending for more than 10 years. Ladakh has also faced gaps in judicial infrastructure and the availability of judicial officers.

CENTRE EYES FOR LADAKH'S DEVELOPMENT

Ladakh became a separate Union Territory in 2019 following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the Centre has taken several steps aimed at strengthening administrative and institutional infrastructure in the region.

The new High Court bench is expected to further strengthen the judicial framework in Ladakh by bringing higher judicial services closer to its residents.