Union Cabinet Approves Permanent Bench of J&K and Ladakh High Court in Ladakh

22 August 2026National

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the sitting of a bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh — the court's third seat after Srinagar and Jammu. Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the decision, which does not create a separate High Court for Ladakh; the J&K and Ladakh High Court remains the common High Court for both UTs. The bench spares litigants from the scattered settlements of Leh and Kargil the long journey to Jammu or Srinagar, reducing pendency. A Central Administrative Tribunal branch had already opened in Leh in 2024.

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The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is the common High Court for both UTs, created under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 | Article 214 provides a High Court for each State, while Article 231 permits a common High Court for two or more States/UTs | Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature on 31 October 2019

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