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Ladakh High Court Bench Begins Hearings Oct. 21, 2026

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 4:01 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chief Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the Ladakh Bench of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in Leh.
The bench will begin hearings on October 21, 2026, with a division bench hearing five cases.
Seventy-five cases have been earmarked for initial listing before the new bench.
The bench will reduce travel to Srinagar and Jammu, giving Ladakh residents local High Court access.

History

Historical Context

In August 2019 Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill; Parliament approved it with 370 Lok Sabha votes and, after presidential assent, state was split into territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 October 2019, ending Article 370. 103-clause act promised a bench in Leh, and on 5 August 2024 Justice Surya Kant inaugurated Ladakh Bench to hear 75 cases for 274,000 residents, fulfilling judicial decentralisation.

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Story summary

Chief Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the Ladakh Bench of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in Leh.
The bench will begin hearings on October 21, 2026, with a division bench hearing five cases.
Seventy-five cases have been earmarked for initial listing before the new bench.
The bench will reduce travel to Srinagar and Jammu, giving Ladakh residents local High Court access.

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