SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved Leh as the initial place of sitting for the Sitting Bench of the High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh, following a recommendation from the Chief Justice of the High Court.
The approval follows a communication from the Registrar General of the High Court dated September 15, 2026, conveying the Chief Justice’s recommendation to designate Leh as the initial place of sitting.
The recommendation was based on the volume of litigation originating from Leh Division, its administrative importance and the availability of suitable infrastructure to begin the Bench’s functioning.
Judicial data placed before the Administration shows that 423 cases are pending from Ladakh, including 252 cases originating from Leh Division. Cases from Leh therefore account for nearly 60 per cent of the pending litigation from the Union Territory.
The High Court observed that locating the initial sitting of the Bench at Leh would serve the convenience of a larger share of litigants and legal professionals in the region.
Leh’s status as the administrative headquarters of Ladakh was also considered. The city houses Lok Niwas, the Civil/Administrative Secretariat and the principal offices of various government departments, facilitating coordination in cases involving the Administration, including legal representation and responses from government authorities.
The High Court further noted that although permanent institutional infrastructure for the Bench would be developed as part of long-term arrangements, suitable temporary infrastructure has already been identified in Leh.
This would allow the Bench to begin functioning without waiting for permanent infrastructure and the completion of construction works.
Following the approval, the Department of Law & Justice, in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner, Leh, will make the necessary administrative arrangements, including protocols, residential facilities for visiting judges and staff, and security arrangements.
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 (No. 10 of 2026), promulgated by the President of India and brought into force from September 5, 2026.
