Lawyers and litigants from Leh and Kargil in Ladakh will soon be able to argue cases before the Supreme Court of India virtually, without the need to travel to Delhi. This significant development was announced by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during the inauguration of the Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The virtual access to the apex court will be facilitated through video-conferencing facilities to be established at the Ladakh Bench of the High Court.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that all matters originating from the Union Territory of Ladakh will be listed on a single day and heard through video-conferencing. This initiative aims to alleviate the considerable time, cost, and hardship currently faced by legal professionals and parties involved in litigation who must travel to the national capital. Chief Justice Kant described the inauguration of the Ladakh Bench as a historic step, acknowledging the long-standing geographical challenges that have historically restricted access to justice for the region’s inhabitants.
The Chief Justice recalled that for nearly a century, the high court serving Ladakh was situated beyond the Great Himalayas, with access in winter possible only by air. He noted that while the inclusion of ‘Ladakh’ in the High Court’s name after its formation as a Union Territory in 2019 was an important gesture, it remained largely symbolic. “A name on a court’s letterhead is not the same as a court at one’s doorstep,” Justice Kant remarked, emphasizing the need for tangible accessibility.
Justice Kant underscored that the newly established Bench is intended to serve both Leh and Kargil, the two primary districts of the Union Territory. He stated that the Bench’s purpose would only be fully realized when individuals in every corner of Ladakh feel a sense of ownership over this judicial institution. Once the video-conferencing infrastructure is in place, the Supreme Court will consolidate all Ladakh-originating cases for virtual hearings, aiming for day-to-day proceedings. This arrangement, according to the Chief Justice, will allow members of the Leh and Kargil bar associations to present their cases before the nation’s highest court without leaving their home region, effectively bridging the geographical divide.
The Chief Justice articulated that the true measure of a court’s efficacy lies not in its physical elevation but in its accessibility to the people it serves. He acknowledged that the Ladakh High Court sits at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters, making it potentially the highest high court in the country. However, he stressed that its significance today is determined by its proximity and responsiveness to the needs of the populace.
Recalling the region’s historical reliance on village institutions and customary practices for dispute resolution, Chief Justice Kant highlighted the long-standing tradition of community-based mechanisms for upholding fairness and settling grievances. He identified technology and legal aid as crucial instruments for overcoming the geographical barriers to justice in such a vast territory. “In a land of such vast distances, technology can do what no road ever could,” he stated, underscoring the transformative potential of technological solutions.
Furthermore, the Chief Justice emphasized the constitutional promise of legal aid, ensuring that no citizen is denied justice due to poverty or disability. He advocated for increased legal awareness camps, the deployment of para-legal volunteers, the provision of affordable legal representation, the active role of lok adalats, and timely compensation for victims of crime. “Access to justice, after all, begins not in the court’s compound, but at the litigant’s door,” he asserted, expressing optimism that the Ladakh Legal Services Authority and the court’s Legal Services Committee would collaborate effectively to reach individuals awaiting justice in remote areas.
Chief Justice Kant envisioned a future where a young child studying in Kargil or Nubra might one day argue a case before the court or even serve as a judge on its Bench. He concluded by stating that such an achievement would signify that the Bench has not merely been established in Ladakh but has truly taken root within the community.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.