Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 30: Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, today held a virtual inauguration for the modern High Court Guest House situated at Melongthang, Leh, in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The event was attended 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 also saw the presence of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of the UT of Ladakh.
The Guest House, built at a cost of Rs 12.42 crore, features eight suites, eight deluxe rooms, and three additional rooms equipped with central heating, an in-house lounge, dining room, and an office with air conditioning, ensuring comfort for its guests. Additionally, a separate staff accommodation has been constructed nearby.
This facility is designed to provide comfortable lodging and boarding for not only visiting Judges from the Supreme Court and various High Courts but also for other judicial officers from different States visiting the UT of Ladakh.
In his inaugural speech, Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan highlighted the essential role that strong infrastructure plays in the efficient operation of the judiciary. He expressed appreciation to the Lieutenant Governor and the UT Administration officials for their relentless cooperation and support in enhancing judicial infrastructure in both Leh and Kargil districts.
The Chief Justice pointed out that previously, there were no appropriate options for visiting judges of the Supreme Court, various High Courts, or even for judges from the High Court or other judicial officers to find comfortable accommodations in the region, other than hotels. He stated that the newly established, modern High Court Guest House will now meet the lodging and boarding needs of judges and judicial officers, ensuring they have a pleasant stay during their visits.
Dr. Pawan Kotwal congratulated the judiciary on the inauguration of the Guest House, attributing the timely completion of the project to regular reviews and personal involvement from the Chief Justice. He reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to providing excellent infrastructure to cater to the judiciary’s requirements.
During the ceremony, Principal District Judge (PDJ) Leh honored various officials and officers from the executing agencies for their commitment to completing the project on time, presenting them with traditional Khataks as a token of appreciation for their outstanding efforts.
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 officials from the High Court Registry in Srinagar. Also present in Leh were 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, along with other senior officials.
Manoj Parihar, Principal District and Sessions Judge Leh, gave the welcome address.
Tsewang Phuntsog, CJM Leh, proposed the formal vote of thanks, and the event was facilitated by Chemit Yurgyal, Secretary DLSA Kargil and Nodal Officer for Judicial Infrastructure Projects in UT Ladakh.
Later, the Chief Justice also inaugurated an Additional Court at the High Court Complex in Srinagar, marking a significant advancement towards improving judicial accessibility and speeding up the delivery of justice for the region’s residents.
