SRINAGAR: The newly established Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh began regular hearings in Leh on Wednesday, with Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjay Parihar presiding over the first regular division bench.
The proceedings marked a significant step towards improving access to justice for litigants in Ladakh, who previously had to travel to Jammu or Srinagar to pursue matters before the High Court.
The division bench took up five listed cases, with Chief Justice Bhati participating through virtual mode and Justice Parihar attending physically at the Ladakh Bench. After the division bench proceedings concluded, Justice Parihar heard 60 matters listed before the single bench.
The arrangement combined virtual and in-person proceedings to facilitate hearings at the newly established bench in Leh, situated at an altitude of more than 11,500 feet above sea level.
Justice Parihar said the selection of the 65 cases listed for the day reflected the initial efforts to organise hearings and facilitate the disposal of matters involving litigants from Ladakh.
He described the commencement of regular hearings, with the Chief Justice participating virtually from the high-altitude location, as a significant development in judicial infrastructure and efforts to ensure that geographical barriers do not impede access to justice.
The establishment of the bench is expected to ease the difficulties faced by litigants from Leh, Kargil and other remote areas of Ladakh, as well as provide greater convenience to the region’s legal fraternity.
The Ladakh Bench was formally inaugurated by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on October 18, 2026, at Melongthang in Leh.
