Ladakh Bench of the J&K and Ladakh High Court opens at Melongthang, Leh – India's highest HC bench; 4 initiatives incl. 'Green Wall', e-Filing

21-10-2026 · English

Topics: Judiciary · 21 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant inaugurated the Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at the High Court complex, Melongthang, Leh, on 18 Oct 2026. At about 3,500 m above sea level, it is the highest-altitude High Court bench in India. Four initiatives were launched: (1) the Green Wall, (2) an e-Filing portal for the Ladakh Bench, (3) a Document Management System (DMS) and (4) the High Court's online recruitment portal. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjay Parihar hears the first cases; 75 pending cases from Ladakh were transferred to it.

Key facts

Background

• The J&K High Court was set up in 1928 under Maharaja Hari Singh. Under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 it has functioned since 31 Oct 2019 as the common High Court for the two UTs of J&K and Ladakh; principal seats – Srinagar and Jammu.
• Constitution: Art 214 – a High Court for each State; Art 231 – Parliament may by law set up a common High Court for two or more States (and a Union Territory); Art 226 – writ jurisdiction of High Courts; Art 241 – High Courts for Union Territories.
• Art 217: High Court judges are appointed by the President after consulting the CJI, the Governor and the Chief Justice of that High Court; retirement age 62. Common HC examples: Gauhati (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh), Punjab & Haryana (+ Chandigarh).
• Technology: e-Filing, document management and video hearings are part of the e-Courts drive towards paperless courts. The CJI said the Supreme Court would list all Ladakh matters on a single day once adequate video-conferencing is available.

Tamil Nadu link: The Madras High Court was set up by Letters Patent under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861 on 15 Aug 1862 – one of the three Chartered High Courts with Calcutta and Bombay. Its Madurai Bench has functioned since 24 July 2004. The Madras HC's jurisdiction also covers the UT of Puducherry.

Source: LiveLaw, SCC Online, The Week (18–19 Oct 2026); AIR News (18 Oct 2026)

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