SRINAGAR, Dec 30: Today, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, inaugurated the modern High Court Guest House in Melongthang, Leh, virtually. He was joined by Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar, Justice Puneet Gupta, Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary, Justice Rahul Bharti, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, and Justice Mohd. Yousuf Wani, all judges of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh. The inauguration was further attended by Dr. Pawan Dev Kotwal, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of the UT of Ladakh.
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The Guest House, built at a cost of Rs 12.42 crore, features eight suites, eight deluxe rooms, and three extra rooms equipped with central heating, along with an in-house lounge, dining area, and office, ensuring comfort for guests. Additionally, a separate accommodation for staff has been constructed nearby.
This facility aims to provide comfortable lodging for visiting judges from the Supreme Court, various High Courts, judges of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, as well as other judicial officers from different states visiting Ladakh.
During his inaugural speech, Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan highlighted the essential role of quality infrastructure in the effective functioning of the judiciary. He thanked the Lieutenant Governor and officials of the UT Administration for their steadfast support in advancing judicial infrastructure in both Leh and Kargil districts.
The Chief Justice pointed out that previously there were no suitable accommodations for visiting judges of the Supreme Court, various High Courts, or even judges from our own High Court and other judicial officers, except for hotels. He added that the newly inaugurated, state-of-the-art High Court Guest House will now meet the lodging needs of judges and judicial officers, guaranteeing a comfortable stay when they visit.
The Chief Justice commended the quick and dedicated efforts of the UT Administration in finalizing this project and expressed hope for similar enthusiasm and efficiency in completing other critical infrastructure projects on time.
Dr. Pawan Dev Kotwal congratulated the judiciary on the new Guest House’s inauguration and credited the Chief Justice’s regular reviews and hands-on involvement for ensuring the project’s timely completion. He reiterated the administration’s dedication to providing high-quality infrastructure to support the judiciary’s needs.
On this occasion, the Principal District Judge (PDJ) Leh acknowledged various officers and officials from the executing agencies who contributed to the project’s timely completion by presenting traditional Khataks as a token of appreciation for their commendable work.
The inauguration was attended by Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General; Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary of the J&K Legal Services Authority; Anoop Sharma, Registrar IT; Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Registrar Judicial, Srinagar; Fayaz Ahmed Qureshi, CPC e-Courts; Abdul Bari, Joint Registrar Judicial and other High Court Registry officers from Srinagar. Spalzes Angmo, Member Secretary of the Ladakh Legal Services Authority; Manoj Parihar, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh; Shafi Lassu, President of the Bar Association Leh; and other senior officials were also present.
Manoj Parihar, Principal District and Sessions Judge Leh, delivered a welcome speech, warmly welcoming the Chief Justice, Hon’ble Judges of the High Court, and other dignitaries present.
Tsewang Phuntsog, CJM Leh, proposed the formal vote of thanks. Chemit Yurgyal, Secretary DLSA Kargil and Nodal Officer for Judicial Infrastructure Projects in UT Ladakh, conducted the proceedings of the event.
Following this, the Chief Justice inaugurated an Additional Court at the High Court Complex in Srinagar. This initiative is a significant advancement towards improving judicial accessibility and speeding up justice delivery for the region’s residents.
On this occasion, the Chief Justice reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that the public has access to effective and timely justice. He also acknowledged the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the successful establishment of the Additional Court.
