Union Cabinet approves High Court Bench for Ladakh

The Union Cabinet has decided to establish a High Court Bench in Ladakh, Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Thursday.

The bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir will significantly enhance access to justice for people living in remote and geographically challenging areas of the Union Territory by reducing the time required to obtain legal services, Shah said in a post on X.

"The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh," he wrote. "The government is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards."

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena welcomed the decision as historic and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He said it reaffirms the government's commitment to the development of Ladakh and to fulfilling long-standing aspirations of its people.

The move addresses a demand that has persisted since Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019 following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Until now, litigants from Ladakh had to travel to Jammu or Srinagar to pursue High Court proceedings.

Officials said the establishment of the bench is expected to bring higher judiciary closer to residents and cut the logistical burden of long-distance travel across difficult terrain.

The decision forms part of the Centre's broader efforts to strengthen institutional infrastructure in the Union Territory while reaffirming constitutional protections for the region.