Leh, Jun 13: Hon’ble Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Patron-in-Chief of the Ladakh Legal Services Authority, virtually inaugurated six Legal Aid Clinics across remote regions of Ladakh on Thursday. The event was hosted at the District Court Complex, Leh.
The clinics were launched in Hanle, Wanla, Baima, Saspol, Chuchot, and Sumoor, aiming to expand access to justice in some of the most distant areas of the Union Territory.
Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sindhu Sharma, Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Executive Chairperson of the Ladakh Legal Services Authority, joined the event virtually, along with Hon’ble Judges of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.
Also present were M.K. Sharma, Registrar General of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Justice; Anoop Kumar Sharma, Registrar IT (virtually); Manoj Parihar, Member Secretary of Ladakh Legal Services Authority and Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh; and Tsewang Phuntsog, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Leh. Other attendees included Mrs. Phuntsog Angmo, Secretary DLSA and Special Mobile Magistrate, Leh; Lakshay Badiyal, Munsiff Nubra; senior prosecuting officers; Bar Association President Mohd Shafi and members; legal aid defense counsels; panel lawyers; para-legal volunteers; and court staff.
Justice Palli praised the efforts of the Ladakh Legal Services Authority in extending legal assistance to people in far-flung regions. He noted that these clinics will help bridge the gap in access to justice across Ladakh, where the terrain and population distribution pose unique challenges. He reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to making justice accessible to every citizen and stressed that no effort should be spared to achieve this goal.
Earlier, Manoj Parihar delivered the welcome address, while Mohd Shafi presented the vote of thanks. The program was conducted and coordinated by Mrs. Phuntsog Angmo.
Following the inauguration, Justice Palli inspected various courts including the Principal District and Sessions Court, the Court of the CJM, and the Special Mobile Magistrate Court in Leh. He also visited the lawyers’ chambers and interacted with members of the Bar, who shared their concerns. Immediate instructions were issued on-site to address these issues.
Later, Justice Palli met with judicial officers and court staff, listened to their grievances attentively, and assured timely solutions.
