CJI Surya Kant announces special bench for hearing Ladakh cases pending in Supreme Court

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Sunday announced that he would set up a special bench of the Supreme Court to hear cases from Ladakh pending before the top court.

CJI Kant was speaking at the inaugural function of the Ladakh bench of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

“I will certainly make an arrangement to set up a special bench on one day to hear all cases from the Ladakh region that are pending before the Supreme Court,” CJI Kant said.

CJI Kant, however, said the cases should be argued by lawyers from Leh and Kargil. He added that advocates could appear online before the bench from the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court's bench in Leh.

“The reason is very obvious. I want that every member of the Kargil and Leh bar must feel integrated with this Supreme Court and Supreme Court bar, and you must feel that you don't represent this area alone. You are in fact representative of the bar association of India, and I can say with again assurance that your competence, your ability, and your articulation is as good as members of the Supreme Court bar. Therefore, you are not lagging behind in any manner in providing best of the assistance to us,” the CJI said.

CJI Kant made the announcement while responding to Attorney General for India R Venkatramani's suggestion that a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court should one day sit and hold proceedings in Ladakh's calm environment, away from the "noisy scenes" witnessed in Delhi.

“When I saw two courts here, I also had this feeling that I should shift the Supreme Court here only. The courtrooms are so good!,” CJI Kant said.