Ladakh Bench of J&K and Ladakh High Court Inaugurated at Leh by CJI
Why in the news
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant inaugurated a new Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Leh on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
Key facts
- Inaugurated by: CJI Justice Surya Kant.
- Venue: High Court Complex, Melangthong, Leh.
- High Court Chief Justice: Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati.
- Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh: Vinai Kumar Saxena, who described the event as a landmark milestone and said it met a long-standing public demand.
- Others present: Supreme Court judges M M Sundresh, P S Narasimha, N Kotiswar Singh and Arun Palli, and Attorney General R Venkataramani.
- Purpose: bring the High Court closer to people in remote parts of the Union Territory and cut the time and cost of travelling to Srinagar or Jammu.
- In his address, the CJI stressed the role of technology in delivering justice.
| Post | Name |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of India | Justice Surya Kant |
| Chief Justice, HC of J&K and Ladakh | Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati |
| Lieutenant Governor, Ladakh | Vinai Kumar Saxena |
| Attorney General of India | R Venkataramani |
About the High Court of J&K and Ladakh
It is the common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Before this bench opened, litigants from Ladakh had to go to Srinagar or Jammu for their cases. The new Leh bench lets them approach the High Court within their own region.
Exam angle
- Ladakh Bench location: Melangthong, Leh; inaugurated on 18 October 2026 by CJI Surya Kant.
- Know key office-holders: HC Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, AG R Venkataramani.
- Linked theme: access to justice through decentralised High Court benches.