The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Friday sanctioned a resident office at New Delhi for better coordination and communication with the Supreme Court and the Union government at the national level.

The office will function under the supervision and control of an officer designated as Registrar (Headquarters), New Delhi and report to the Chief Justice through the Registrar General.

In an order issued on Friday, Chairman of the J&K Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal Amit Kumar Gupta was asked to function as Registrar (Headquarters), New Delhi till further orders.

As per the High Court, the resident office has been established for following purposes:

1. Establish and maintain a secure channel for transmission and handling of confidential communications and sensitive matters requiring direct interaction between the High Court and the Supreme Court;

2. Maintain regular liaison with the Supreme Court Registry; the Department of Justice, constitutional authorities, judicial institutions, ministries, departments and other agencies in New Delhi;

3. Facilitate handling of administrative and institutional matters requiring coordination at the national level;

4. Coordinate with standing counsel and other counsel engaged on behalf of the High Court before the Supreme Court;

5. Monitor the progress of cases involving the High Court and ensure timely transmission of records, instructions, comments and responses;

6. Facilitate compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court from time to time;

7. Facilitate handling of administrative and institutional matters requiring coordination at the national level; and

8. Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Chief Justice from time to time.

[Read Order]