The Union Cabinet on Thursday 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 announced.
Shah said the decision would improve access to justice for people living in remote and far-flung areas of Ladakh. It would reduce the time required to access legal services. He said the decision was taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Taking to X, the Minister posted, “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. This will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to avail themselves of the legal services they are entitled to.”
“The Govt is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards,” the post read.
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. This will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 20, 2026
The High Court of J&K and Ladakh currently functions through benches in Jammu and Srinagar. Cases concerning the Ladakh region are presently heard by either of the two benches.
Following Thursday’s decision, cases about Ladakh will be heard at the new bench to be established in Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
High Court’s History
Before the abrogation of Article 370, the court was known as the J&K High Court. It exercised jurisdiction over the entire region, including Ladakh.
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was later bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Following the bifurcation, the court was renamed the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It will retain the same name after the latest decision.
The court will now have an additional bench at Leh alongside its existing benches in Jammu and Srinagar.
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