President Invokes Article 240 to Enable High Court Hearings in Ladakh
What Happened
President Droupadi Murmu has promulgated the Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026, enabling the High Court of J&K and Ladakh to hold sittings within Ladakh. The regulation was issued under Article 240 of the Constitution and Section 58(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Key Takeaways
The move creates the legal framework for a High Court bench to function in Ladakh, reducing the need for litigants to travel to Srinagar or Jammu for hearings. Judges will be able to sit in Ladakh at locations designated by the Chief Justice with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor.