In a step towards bringing the justice delivery system closer to the people of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Jammu Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) held a Circuit Sitting at the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, Melongthang, Leh, on October 24.

The sitting was organised by the Department of Law and Justice and presided over by Sanjeev Gupta, Member (Judicial), and Pragya Sahay Saksena, Member (Administrative).

The Circuit Sitting was exclusively dedicated to cases involving applicants and petitioners from Ladakh, providing them an opportunity to access justice closer to home.

During the proceedings, the Bench heard more than 30 cases related to applicants and petitioners from the Union Territory. In several cases, appropriate relief was also granted to the aggrieved parties in accordance with the law.

The proceedings were attended by advocates, counsels, law officers from concerned departments, applicants, petitioners and other stakeholders. Among the advocates present were Raghu Mehta, who joined virtually, Mohd. Shafi Lassu, Nissar Ladakhi, Akhil Bardi, Mustafa Haji and Tassaduq Abidi.

The Circuit Sitting, organised by the Department of Law and Justice at least twice a year, was appreciated as an important initiative to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ladakh. Given the region’s challenging geographical terrain and the considerable distance involved in travelling to Jammu, such sittings provide litigants with an opportunity to attend Tribunal proceedings locally, reducing the burden of travel and related expenses.