Leh, October 18 (KNS): Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday inaugurated the newly established Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Melongthang in Leh, marking a significant step towards improving access to justice in the Union Territory.

The Bench is expected to reduce the difficulties, travel time and expenses faced by litigants from remote areas of Ladakh who otherwise have to travel to Srinagar or Jammu for judicial proceedings.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Supreme Court judges Justice M. M. Sundresh, Justice P. S. Narasimha and Justice Arun Palli, Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, and other judges and senior officials.

During the ceremony, the CJI also virtually inaugurated the Green Wall initiative and launched digital facilities, including the e-Filing Portal and Document Management System (DMS) for the Ladakh Bench and the High Court's Online Recruitment Portal.

The e-Filing Portal will enable advocates and litigants to submit cases electronically, while the DMS will facilitate digital management of judicial records.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe recruitment portal aims to improve transparency and efficiency in recruitment to the High Court and district judiciary.

The Ladakh Bench will function as a fully IT-enabled, paperless court equipped with modern digital infrastructure, including a digitisation centre, filing counter and video-conferencing facilities.

The Chief Justice of India also initiated work for installing solar power systems at 11 locations as part of efforts to promote renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering, Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati said access to justice had been the guiding principle behind the establishment of the Bench, particularly for people living in geographically challenging and remote areas.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena described the establishment of the Bench as a historic milestone and highlighted the importance of environmental conservation.

In his presidential address, CJI Surya Kant emphasised the role of technology and legal aid in overcoming geographical barriers and ensuring accessible justice for the people of Ladakh.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kumar Kundra. (KNS)